AN ILLICIT STILL

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 517, 13 September 1902, Page 3

AN ILLICIT STILL

FINE OF £IOO.

(Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, last night. In the Magistrate’s Court to-day, 'James Edward McGrath was charged witli being found in possession of an illicit still and a quantity of spirits at Linwood,

Accused pleaded guilty. Accused came to the colony a few months hack and took a house, where he set up a complete distillery in company witii his wife and a man named Sheridan. Sugar and yeast were used in the manufacture, but it is not jet known how much spirits had been manufactured.

Counsel for the defence said that the accused, after arriving in New Zealand, did clerical work until he met Sheridan, who told accused that lie i(Sbcridaii) had been engaged in illicit distillery, hut had been prosecuted and had been lined £4OO, He told him it .was not illegal to make spirits for private use, and'offered to show him bow to do so. He came to Christchurch, and Sheridan distilled the whissy that

,\vas found. Accused became suspicious .that the business was not legal, and refused to have anything to do with jt, with the result that not an ounce el spirit had ever been sold. Counsel for prosecution said lliat accused had told the Collector of Customs that he was here to purchase stock. Most of the apparatus was ingeniously concealed, and the accused tried to deny its nature when the place was visited by the Collector, showing that he could hardly luue thought that he was carrying on an. innocent business. 'l'hcy had no evidence against Sheridan, who was oid •Hid infirm, and would not have been admitted to the colony had not the accused passed him oh as his lather< The Magistrate said that it was a harefaced ease, and the minimum renal tv asked for by counsel for the defence was not sufficient.. Ho fined accused £IOO, with the alternative oi three months’ imprisonment. The charge against John khen-.an, for being concerned in the unlaw.ul making of spirits was then withdrawn, on the application of counsel for the prosecution.