SMUGGLING OF SILVER.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 18243, 17 July 1931, Page 3

SMUGGLING OF SILVER.

ACCUSED FOUND GUILTY. MINIMUM FINE IMPOSED. AUSTRALIAN VENTURER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 17. Holding that all the circumstances pointed to the silver being taken out for a 'Commercial venture, Mr E. W. Page, S.M., in a reserved decision convicted Ronald Maxwell Stewart of having shipped with intent to export silver coin contrary to Section 47 of the Customs Act, 1913. He imposed a fine of £25, the min> mum amount allowed under the Act.

ANOTHER FIND.

(BETWEEN £7OO AND £IOOO,

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July 18

Yesterday afternoon Chief Defective Hammond and Detective MeWhirter went to a room in a city hotel, and, breaking open a wardrobe, found and seized ten large bags of Australian silver coins, and arrested a woman named Irene Dobson, aged 35, on a charge of importing into New Zealand prohibited goods, Australian silver coin. When accused, for whom Mr J. E. Sullivan appeared, came before Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M., at the Police Court, Chief Detective Hammond said that he arrested on Wednesday night a man named Wiflliani Bennett McGregor (52) on a charge of being unlawfully in possession of £32 worth of Australian coin. The man was remanded until July 23. "This woman arrived here on July 14 by the Marama from Sydney,'' said Mr Hammond. "When we searched a room at the hotel we got ten large bags full of Australian silver, estimated to be between £7OO and £IOOO worth —probably much more, for we have not yet counted it. This woman'has been tripping backwards and forwards -between Australia and New Zealand since Easter, evidently getting exchange on the money." Accused was also remanded until July 23 on bail of £l6O. FILLED THE POLICE SAFE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, July 17 The silver seized by the police yesterday (in connection with' the importation and possession of whicJ Irene Dobson and William Bennett McGregor were arrested), amounted to £lOl6, filling the police safes.