THE ILLIOT STILL CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 8, 28 September 1880, Page 2

THE ILLIOT STILL CASE.

+ Charles Keavdon was on Friday last brought before the Resident Magistrate and Mr Macarthur, J.P., at tfeilding, charged with being illegally ia possession at Paiaka of a worm and still head, articles used for the purposes of illict distillation. Mr Stake appeared for the defence, and Mr Burgess, Collector of Customs, pro.

Secu cd. From the Feildiug Guardian we quote the evidence of M'Guive, and lieardon's statement :— John M'Guire : — I am a workman at the Paiaka sawmill. I have seen the still head (produced) I saw it at Reardon's whare knocking about the floor a oout six weeks ago. I borrowed it for the purpose of running some honey-mead into a cask. r l he*Kvorm y produced was tound in the hut belong' ~wing to Rear don By Mr Staite :— I have seen the worm before, about two months ago. 1 1 have seen the still head about the whare more than once. I saw tho accused with the worm in his hand some time ago. He did not make any remark about it. I did not know what it was used for myself. I positively swear I did not know. I know that Reardon endeavoured to sell the worm. 1 have no reason to suppose that he has been distilling spirits. I heard that some coppers had been " chucked " into the liver some time ago. I have never heard that whisky had been distilled in that distric. I would not have kept the still head in my whare had I known that I was liable to a penalty of £500. Reardon was away from the mill for some time, during which time I believed he was cutting flax. This concluded the case for the prosecution. Mr Staice addressed the Bench a? considerable length in defence of the accused, and s rated that the accused would give evidence under the " Summary Convictions Ac% 1875," showing that he was not aware of the use of the articles mentioned. Charles Reardon, the accused, then made the following statement ; — " I have not much to say about the matter, except that I found the worm and still head. I did not know what it was then. I found it two miles below my whare on the river bank in the bush. At the time I found it I was clearing flax. I did not find anything else when I came across them and took them home. I thought it might be useful for the saving business. I put it under my bunk, but as I wanted the space for firewood, I placed it over the bunk. I was surprised to know what it was ; if I had known what it was, it would not have been there ; I offered it to Mr Mason for a water pipe or saw. I have shown the worm to several people. I have never distilled whisky, and do not know anything about the process. This is all I wish to state." The Bench said (he offence was a serious one, and that they considered accused was guilty. They hardly believed the statement that he did not know the use of the worm,; and were not quite satisfied as to the explanations about the finding of the worm. A penalty of £ 50 would be inflicted, iv default three months' imprisonment in Wanganui gaol.