From time to time I have mentioned the extreme severity with which people who try to smuggle dutiable stuff into England are dropped on when caught. Not infrequently these people are modistes trying to bring in Paris models for business pur-
But the case of a young married woman caught smuggling jewellery this week is outstanding. She was actually on her honeymoon at Cannes and came home by air because of some domestic trouble in her house. Her husband being a wealthy man had given her a valuable bracelet, and brooch in Paris, and she wore them under her blouse, but foolishly left the empty cases in her suitcase.
This put the Customs people at Croydon on the track, and under their questioning she broke down and disclosed the jewels. The magistrates fined her the value of the jewels and the duty payable, in all £782, Added to this the brooch and bracelet were confiscated and, if she wants them back, she will have to pay for them.
(Moral: even Customs officials will temper the wind to the shorn lamb, but it must speak the truth.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.