Postby dognose » Tue Feb 12, 2013 4:28 pm
POHOOMUL BROTHERS
Bombay
United States District Court Holds That Man Charged with Fraud Must Be Extradited to India, But He Appeals Case.
New Orleans, La., Feb. 4.–Col. Charles Glenn Collins, former officer in the British army, lost his case in the United States District Court where he was seeking to prevent his extradition to India on a charge of having obtained valuable pearls by fraud. He has appealed to the United States Supreme Court and unless that court reverses the decision of Judge Rufus Foster he will be taken to India for trial.
The case of Col. Collins has attracted wide attention and is a noted one in the New Orleans courts. It dates back to February, 1917. In affidavits made by the local British consul-general he is accused of having pretended to Pohoomul Bros., Bombay, India, jewelers, that he was wealthy and had the right to draw a draft for 5,000 pounds on E. Curtis & Co. of London, Eng. On this representation it is charged he obtained a valuable pearl necklace. He is also charged with pretending to Ganeshi, Lall & Sons of Bombay, that he was a partner of William Collins Sons & Co. of Glasgow and London and had the right to draw for 2,000 pounds on the Curtis firm and on that representation obtained valuable jewels. It is charged that he was not wealthy at the time he obtained the jewels but was bankrupt and it is charged that the drafts were returned unhonored by the London bankers.
Arthur Fuller, senior police inspector of the British police had tracked Collins from India, through Camp Volcartier, Canada, and thence through New York and New Orleans. He was arrested in New Orleans and was confined in the house of detention for two years and made an attempt to escape but was arrested by United States authorities.
One of his points of resistance against extradition was that a state of unrest existed in India and he would not be able to have a fair trial. There was also a point raised in the pleadings as to the charge of "cheating," it seems. Judge Foster ruled, however, that there is no difference between "cheating" under the India laws and "obtaining goods under false pretenses" under the Louisiana code.
Colonel Collins made many friends in New Orleans by his affability and personal charm and for some time has been out on $10,000 bail. It is said that his bond was signed by at least one very prominent New Orleans woman, a leader in society and prominent in war work and civic activities. His attorneys J. Zach Spearing and Major Roland Howell have been making a strenuous fight to prevent his being extradited and for his freedom.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - Volume 82 - 9th February 1921
Trev.