SMUGGLING PLOT

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1929, Page 7

SMUGGLING PLOT

LINER STEWARD CHARGED. NEW YORK, Nov. 20. The arrest of William Ballyn, chief steward of the Canard liner Berengaria, on charges or conspiring with others to smuggle unset diamonds into the United States, has caused a sensation in New York. Ballyn is known to thousands of Atlantic travellers as the “Singing Steward,” For years he has directed an excellent ship’s orchestra, consisting of 45 mendK'rs of the crew, and at midoeoan concerts as a baritone soloist he has achieved unique popularity. ’ He has been in wide demand in New York for church concerts, and a,s a singer ol sea chanties he is well known to wireless audiences. For a long time the Customs authorities have been puzzled alwiut the increasing quantities of smuggled diamonds sold in this eoiinuy. When the Berengaria docked on Saturday they sent their “diamond squad” to the liner. Members of it went to tlie chief steward’s cabin, broke open bis desk, and, it is alleged seized two packages of diamonds which they subsequently appraised at ±llO,OOll.

DOCK POLICEMAN

Ballyn was arrested, but nothing was said about his arrest until late last night, when other arrests were effected, including that of a policeman named Mclntyre who for years has done duty on the Cunard docks. Like' Ballyn, Mclntyre is a favourite with the travelling public. This morning the iiolioe took into custody a New Y’ork jeweller, Morris Landau, and his daughter Frances, aged 20. All four were charged before Federal Commissioner Garrett YV. Cotter, and were held for trial by the Federal Grand Jury. Tlie Cunard Line were represented at to-day’s hearing by counsel, who explained that of course the company were completely ignorant of any attempt made by any of its servants to’ engage 'in smuggling., Counsel tendered the company’s offer to do all in its power to assist the authorities in their investigations. Ballyn was released on bail of £I,OOO, as was the jeweller. McTntyre had tofind £7OO hail and the girl £3OO.

AN UNNAMED MAN. It was stated by Mr Norman Pike, special agent in charge of the investigation, that for two years Ballyn had been delivering to McTntyre packages which lie received from an unnamed man in Southampton. Altogether he hail made 30 trips in two years and the authorities estimated that £IOO,OOO worth of diamonds had lieen smuggled. Ballyn, it was stated, sometimes delivered the packages at Mclntyre’s house.. At other times he handed them to him in the street. The policeman each time gave Ballyn £2O and received from Landau £6O. The girl fetched the packages from Mclntyre’s house. The authorites recently have been searching all liners for smuggled diamonds. They believe a vast conspiracy exists to evade the law.