NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1927, Page 4

NEWS BY MAIL.

SILK DRESSES CONFISCATED. LONDON, Jan, 17. Lady Kathleen Yilliers, of Boltonayeinie, W incisor was summoned at Westminister yesterday for attempting to evade the payment of duties on two silk dreses at \ ictoria Station on Deceember 14. .Air Gibson, prosecuting said that when Lady Kathleen arrived atVictoria she said that she had to declare was a small bottle of perfume. The officers saws certain silk articles, and in reply to their questions Lady Kathleen said she had taken those garments out of the country with her and that the materi.il had been made up by

i her own dressmaker. When asked to I sign a declaration to that effect she was | about to do so but finally declined. I M hen the chief officer wfis sent for she said “Won't you let me off by paying the duty now that I have confessed . The value of the dresses was £ls. so that by attempting to evade the payment of £5. duty she was liable to a peifalty of £IOO. Mr Nicholson, defending, said that many women had the mistaken idea that garments which had hen worn need not be declared. The dresses were

not concealed in yiny way. Mr Boyd said that it was clear that Lady Kathleen knew perfectly well that the two dresses ought to he de- j

flared and she stated what was not true. She must pay a line of £75. Mr Nicholson: Does that mean that the dresses are confiscated ? Mr Uuyd: Yes. i'lix £2O LOOK. BEIU.IN, December 2i. i Professor Peder, of Prague, recently inserted an advertisement in a newspaper to announce that lie wanted an educated, well-bred person capable ol doing secretarial work to accompany him on a tour. Almost by return of post he received an application from a person whose name was no other than that ol the lovely Lya de *Putti, and a pliotogiaph charming enough to make even the heart of a professor heat faster. Every child in Germany—and, indeed, in Centra 1 Europe—knows who Lya de Pntti is and has seen her fascinating figure flitting across the cinema screen, but the professor who could say, without a moment’s hesitation, who anybody human or divine include: in the dictionary of classical antiquwas, had never even heard of the film star. So he immediately sent the £2O in advance suggested by the applicant, and waited her arrival. When she appeared he saw that she did not hear the slightest resemblance to the photograph. He asked her to account lor this. It was very difficult, for, of course, she was not Lye do Putti at all. It. was. she finally confessed, a friend of hers, Marie Dovoiak, who had told her to write and instructed her to use the name of Lya. Marie, however; had said nothing about the little cheque for £2O. hut had kept it. Tlie professor, indignant and shocked. went tli the police, and Marie Dove.iak was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment yesterday tor swindling.