STILL EXHIBITED IN COURT

Chronicle (Levin), 11 March 1946, Page 4

STILL EXHIBITED IN COURT

-Press Association

POLICE RAIO ON SHED BAKER PLEAOS GUILTY

By Telegraph-

CHRISTCHURCH, March 11. A copper still was. exhibited in fche Magistrate's Court this morning. when Alexander 'Kyle,, alias, McKay, aged 39, a b.aker, was charged before Mr. Raymond Ferner, 1 S.M., with having in hi's; possession a still suitable for distillisng. Kyle pleaded guilty and was, fined £10,0. The retort of the still was made of' two ten-gallon wash-house coppers weided together and connected' to a worm of c.opper tubing,. Brand new funnel's were also produeed by iffie police, together with a ga& burner, which was to have been used, the poli'ce alleged, to heat the retort. Mr. A. W. Brown, for the CoHlectojr of Customs;, said that when che police visited the premises- on fi'ebruary 28" and entered a shedJ, they found two men erecting a stand for receiving the cask. Whil'e deteetives were there. Kyle arrived in a taxi in which was found the retort, and in a s.uitease in Kyle's room they found the worm. Kyle had admitted ownership- of the ap-. paratus, which he said he ihtended &6 use for the production of spirit to fortify wine he- was making, but it had never been used. Mr*. ©. V. Lester, for Kyle, said it was; obvious that the apparatus could not be set up without the knowledge of the other occupants of the premises, and it seemed likerly that Kyle was ta-king- the blame for what was a joint enterprise.