OPIUM SMUGGLING.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20179, 6 March 1931, Page 4

OPIUM SMUGGLING.

SHIP'S STEWARD FINED 1250. [THE PRESS Specif n«nrte».] WELLINGTON. March 5. Caught alter 4 ehase through citystreets with sine tins of opium in his possession, Charles Thomas Mclptyrp, a ship's stewarc}, aged 41, was fined £250, in. default six months' imprisonment, by Mr E, Page, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court to-day. Mr A. Paul, Collector of Customs, said accused arrived at Wellington by the Maungattui on Tuesday lost. Act. jng ou information received, Detectives MeJLannfin and J. Murray went to Mauners street, where they saw accused. He bolted, and after being chased was caught in Herbert street. Nine tins of opium, weighing about h«Jf a pound each, were found on , him. The tins h&4 .aqktgble Vftlue of about £2O each. Accused said he | brought the opium from Sydney, but refugee) to gtvu tjio narau of the pros* gectivo buyer. Nothing was- known i against him previpusJv. although lie had bocjn suipoctod of running opium. Mr Rollings, for accused, earn his I client'# record had been a good wo, apart from his implication In the present oflence. He was ft first grade i steward in tha Miungantii, where he I had been employed far ib# p&st two or thre§ years, As « result of his arrest he wejwld lags hi# Bfi was 9 married man. He had served , fpiir yenrs, in France with the Auftrniinn forces. Hp bad been, badly nssed and wgs in receipt of _» war pension of £i is a freefc,. "Tim man will have t<f pay the fine himself, and f am instructed that eyen if he had got flwny he would haw By po means received £IBO, which the opium is S»fd to he wprth." asid Ml" Rolling*. '•He wfts importing ii on a commission basis and .his share would have only bfcen p. small .fraction." i * The Magistrate* It is cfew a substantial penalty will h»v«S to be imppsed in this <?»se. The Act provides fop ft maximum penalty pf ggfX) nr twelve months' {mprisopmept. or Dqth, and for ft minimum penalty of £123. Accu» c d was found in pmewfti of opium, tbe.SßlqabJfl Y&lup «f, whipft in Sfew s&Pf*!f\Tl(J is fitatetj to bp close appn 1 €BOO. He'will he fiped £250. Ip j fa nit six - months' imprisonment. A fftrtniabt will b« allowed in which .to ppy the Sne.