CUSTOMS CASES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1936, 19 December 1913, Page 11

CUSTOMS CASES.

THE MEN' TO STAND THEIR TRIAL. CJBy .Teleiraßii.r.-Press Association.).. Ciiristchurch, December 17. ■ The cases of alleged frauds on the Customs- Department were continued at the Magistrate's Court to-day. Christopher Robert Smith, Samuel John M'Cormack, and James Anderson Campbell were charged 'with having, on September 12, 1918, stolen £12 125,, the property of Messrs, llicks and Co. Mr. Donnelly appeared for M'Cormack, Sir. Hunt' -for (smith, and Mr, Hobau for Campbell, llr.. Wright appeared I'or the Customs Department.

Mr. Wright said, that Hicks and Co., jewellers,- iiad ordered a case of goods per s.s, lonic.. Thp goods were made in Ucrmany, and were liable- to a preferential tarilt' of 10 per ec-nt., and, in addition, to a duty of 20 per cent, ad valorem on the value of the goods. Tho correct amount of duty was £18 18s. The Customs entry was put through by Smith, who assessed the duty at .£<3 Gs. A correct account for £18 18s. was rendered against llicks and Co.,' and the money /was included in a cheque for £122 10s. which they paid, and which included other amounts in respect of which prosecutions would ensue. The cheque was -drawn by Smith, and countersigned by M'Cormack and cashed. A curious feature of tho business.was that the declaration on the- back of the prime

entry, necessary in conncctiou with the passing of goods subject- to ad valorem duty on preferential tariff, was taken !),<• 'M'Conimek, ami purported to 'be signed by Edward John llicks. This Mr. flicks would show was a forgery. Both Smith and M'Coi'mnck falsified tho entry, anil Campbell certified that ho had compared the' entry with tho in* voice. That certificate was false as to the value which was given in the entry as £18 i-Is. yd., but. was correctly given in tho invoice as £57.

After evidence had been h-fard, accused reserved their defence, pleaded not Riii'ty, and were committed to the Srpromo Court for trial. lil'Corinack, Smith and Campbell were then charged with tho theft, on September 12, of £2G Is., the property of Hubert Tnrton.,

.Mr. Wright- said that this was another case arising out of the die-quo for £132 10s. The facts were that Mr. Turtoir imported, per steamer ■ Westmonlli. n case of dress floods valued at £114 12s. He employed the New Zealand ."Express Company to pass the Customs entries, handing tliem tho invoice. The entries woro not put through in—tho- ordinary way, but by bill of

right. Accused was committed for trial

■Smith and Campbell were then charged that on November 20 thov had stolen £8 the property of I?. Tiirton. Mr. Turtoil's evidence was heard and tho" case adjourned.