SERIES OF LIES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 455, 24 June 1937, Page 3

SERIES OF LIES

WOMAN’S PURCHASES Evasion Of Duty London, May 26. At the Westminster Police Count. Gezina Birnbaum, a Dutch subject, of Felden Road, Boxmoor, Herts, was summoned by the Commissioner of Customs and Excise for being knowingly concerned in the evasion ot duty on three furs, a silk blouse and a straw hat imported from France. The treble value and duty on the goods were £249 8s 6d. Mr. G. D. Roberts, K.C., and Mr. J. Mervyn G. Griffith-Jones appeared for the defendant, and tendered a plea of guilty. Mr. C. A. Ryves, prosecuting, said the defendant was the wife of a banker living in this country. She arrived at Victoria krom Paris on March 6 and presented her luggage for examination. She was given the usual list of articles that were dutiable, .and was also told /that she must declare anything she had bought abroad. -She paid a small amount on small articles, but on her baggage being examined a hat and the fur collars were found. She at first said she had bought these in Oxford Street before the went abroad The officer became suspicious \ and told the defendant he was afraid she was not speaking the truth, and she then said she had bought the fur coat in Paris a few days- before and had paid £3O for it.

“Taking a Chance.” An invoice was afterwards found, however, showing that she had contracted to pay -about £62. Certain other articles were brought to ligni, but they were of small value. Eventually the defendant fed mil tied she had told a lot of lies and had brought the articles with her from Paris. Atked why she had behaved so she replied.—“ Ladies look upon it as a sport. My friends told me how they got ;these things through by taking a chance, and I 'decided to take a chance myself. This is the most etf? pensive dress I have ever bought. She then offered to pay th2 duty. Mr Roberts said the case was not one of goods being introduced; into this country for resale; they were for the defandant’s own personal adornment. She had been staying at St. Moritz tor some time, and while passing through Paris on h°r return home she met some American acquaintances and was taken to an expensive dressmaker's, where she was persuaded, very foolishly, to buy an article for 6500 francs. She told her husband she had paid £3O for it; he had promised to pay; and also the duty. Foolishly she did not tell the truth, and then became frightened, and her first lie landed her iiTto a succession of others. She now bitterly regretted what had happened. The magistrate (Mr. Kenneth Marshall) said he quite accepted counsel’s statement that the case was not one of trying to make money. The defendant had landed herself in >a network of lies, and she must realise that to behave in such a manner was very expensive. She must pay a. fine of £6O and £2 2s cosits.