OPIUM RUNNER

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1931, Page 2

OPIUM RUNNER

DETECTIVES WATCH STEWARD. *'» ■ CHASE THROUGH STREET. WELLINGTON, March 6. Caught, after a chase through the city streets, with nine tins of opium in his possession, Charles Thomas McIntyre, ship’s steward, aged 41, was fined £250, in default six months’ imprisonment by Mr E. Page S.M-, in the Police Court yeseteirday. Mr A. Paul, Collector of Customs, said that accused arrived in Wellington by the .Maunganui on Tuesday last. Acting on information received, Detectives McLennan and J. Murray went to Manners Street, where they saw accused. He bolted, and after being chased was caught in Herbert Street. Nine tins of opium, weighing about half a pound each, were found on him. The tins had a saleable value of about £2O each. Accused stated lie had brought the opium from Sydney, but refused to give the name o! the prospective buyer. Nothing was known against him previously, although he had been suspected of running opium. Mr Rollings, for accused, said his instructions were that his event’s record had been a good one, apart from his implication in the (present offence. He was a first-grade steward on the Maunganui, where he had been employed for the past two or three years, and as a result of his arrest would certainly lose his position. He was a married man and counsel asked the court to take that fact into consideration in imposing a fine. Accused was an Australian by birth, and had served four years in France with the Australian Forces. He had been badly gassed, and was in receipt of a war pension of £1 Is a week from the Australian Government.

“ This man will have to pay the fine himself, and I am instructed that even if lie had got away he would have by no means received the £IBO which the opium is said to be worth,” said Mr Rollings. “He was importing it on a commission basis, and his share would have only been a small fraction.” The Magistrate: “ Tt is clear a substantial penalty will have to be imposed in this case. The Act provides for a maximum penalty of £SOO, or 1° months’ imprisonment, or both, and for a minimum penalty of £125. Accused,,Was found in possession of opium the saleable value of which in New Zealand iV stated to be close on £2OO. He will be fined £250, in default six months’ imprisonment. A fortnight, was allowed in which to pay the fine.