AN ILLICIT STILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 49, 23 March 1909, Page 2

AN ILLICIT STILL.

HEAVY FINES. lly Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Maurice Collins and Thomas Matthews were brought 'before Air. W. (;. iliddell, S.M.. to-dav on the following charges:—(l) That the)- were on March , 18th at Adelaide road unlawfully con- ■ ccrned in making spirits; (2) that they j were found in a house, No. 4'Adelaide . road, where illicit distillation Avas then I carried on; (3) that they were found in I possession or in custody of a utensil I suited for distilling. Collins pleaded guilty to being concerned in unlawfully making spirits, and at the request of Mr. Bell, the other two charges against him were 'withdrawn. Matthews pleaded j not guilty to the three charges. Both were convicted, and Collins was lined I 1 £IOO and .Matthews £SO, the alterna- ' tivc in each case being six months' itn-

prisoiiiiiient. Chief Detective Broberg said he had gone to the premised on Thursday ■last. Matthews was in the door talking; to riomcone, Detectives Cassells and Andrews \\vnfc\ past ■ the house to go up a lane to get to the back. .Matthews' attention was drawn to them, mill he immediately rushed in and locked the rout door. Witness and iDcteelive Lewis burst in the front door and found accused endeavoring to lock the back door. The still was found i" a back room, ilatthews admitted that ,it was a whisky still, and showed them a barrel containing spirits. Matthews said lie had been working for accused Collins for three day*, and had made the whisky during that time. The still, whisky, and utensils were removed, and , accused taken to the station. i .. .j