ALLEGED SMUGGLING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23682, 14 December 1938, Page 13

ALLEGED SMUGGLING

INVESTIGATION IN AMERICA ' KINEMA STARS INVOLVED NEW YORK, Dec. 12. George Burns, an ex-movie actor and a member of the radio team of Bums and Allen, pleaded guilty in the Federal Court to nine counts of smuggling 4885 dollars' worth of diamond-studded jewellery. The maximum penalty on all counts would be 18 years' imprisonment and a 45,000 dollars fine, but it is believed that he will only be fined. Other prominent kinema artists are also exDected to be involved in the smuggling investigations which were begun a fortnight ago, and those already questioned include Katherine Hepburn. Jack Benny, and Wallace Ford, a movie director. The authorities recently arrested the wife of a .New York judge and an agent who allegedly smuggled clothing ahd jewellery for prominent persons through claiming diplomatic privileges, giving him freedom. Burns's name was found among the latter's correspondence. Information is believed to have been lodged with the authorities by a servant of the judge's household, who was incensed by anti-Nazi remarks made at the dinner table, and left threatening, " You will suffer for this." Burns is alleged to have made a statement that he was not aware that the duty had not been paid on the jewellery. He considered the offence merely a technicality, not Involving moral guilt on his part.