ILLICIT DISTILLATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1633, 13 September 1887, Page 3

ILLICIT DISTILLATION.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Timaru, yostrrday, before J. 8. Beswiok, Esq., R M., Willia a Paul was oha’ged with having in his possession, between the 11th July and 2nd September, 1887, certain apparatus and utensils intended or suited for distilling, Mr White appeared for the Grown to prosecute, and Mr Hay for the defence. . The following report ii abidged from a Timaru paper Charles Edward Cooper proved that he had been authorised by the Government to lay the information. George Lyall, manager of part of the Levels estate, near Tycno Flat, deposed that he knew the accused Paul. He knew the locality whore some of the things wore found. The place was about one and a-half miles from Paul’s residence. No one had anthority to place any vats there. Jn cross-examination by Mr Hay, the witness said he believed the locality was the company’s leasehold and occupied by them, Walter Gilchrist, cooper, Timaru, deposed that aoouied gave him an order about 27th J one last for a large tub. He said he wanted it about four feet deep, about three feet in diameter at the bottom, and not so wide at the top. Accused wanted tho tub as soon as possible. Witness made the tub, and accused paid him £2 for it. Accused put an address on the tub which witness read. It was " John Brown, farmer, Ashburton.” The accused said he wanted the tub for eteeping grain for fowls. Davidson called and took away the tub, The tub witness had seen outside the Court was the one witness had made. Witness had seen a false bottom outside tho Court. The tub will hold about 160 gallons, George Francis Martin, manager of a corn store in Strathalan Street, Timaru, deposed that on the 10th August last the accused purchased 10 sacks of crushed oats. That was ell in the store. He said he would otherwise have taken more. He said Davidson, the expreisman, would call for the oats. Davidson called and took them away the same day. The sack (produced) was sewn with binding twine. That was how the witness’ bags were sown. Did not know of any other merchant in Timaru using binding twine for sewing bags. He had been to three merchants in Timaru, and found that they did not use binding twine for sewing bate.

Cross-examined by Mr H»y: He sold a good lot of crushed oats for horse feed. He could not (identify the sack. All the sacks sold were sown with binding twine. John Davidson, licensed carrier, living at Glen-iti, deposed that ho bad known P&ul about twelve months, Abont the 22ad July accused gave witness instructions to call for a tub at Gilchrist’s and leave it at witness’ place. He said he would call lor iti He ■aid something about pickling wheat. Witness did not see any direction on the tub. In June he said he wanted some lined cases. Witness purchased some oases from Bailantyne and Co., marked “ J.B. & Oo.” They were made watertight at Priest and Holdgate’s. Took the case to witness’ own house. Accused told witness that he wanted some oats taken from Martin's to the Melville Hotel. Witness took the oats and pat them in a dray belonging to the acoased. Accused told witness to get some kege. Witness got some kegs from 'Turnball’e store. Could net be positive as to the size of the kegs. The kfgi were taken home by witness. In cross-examination the witness said there was nothing in the nature of the articles to lead anyone to suppose they would be used for an unlawful purpose. James Wilson corroborated the evidence of the last witness.

Thomas Broham, Inspector of Police, deposed that he, with Detective Kirby, Sergeant Livingstone, Constables Stanley and Satcbwell, went in search of an illicit still on the 2nd init. Went to the house of the accused, but found the house empty, and the furniture piled on a dray in front of the house. A drapery case was standing beside the dray, They found tho tin produced in the house. The party divided, Constable Stanley and witness going in one direction, the rest in another. After, some hours’ search they came on a sledge track running up one of the spurs. Followed it, and noticed fresh hor-e tracks. After some time they got into a gully, whioh_ was well watered. Found some articles in a place. From the appearance an illicit still hod been there, and probably had not been removed more than two or three days. Found a large tub and two hogsheads. One stood beside the position that the still had occupied. Also found one fivegallon keg, and two large drapery oases. One contained about ten gallons of wash. The other case alio contained a little wash. Two ten-gallon sheep dip tins, similar to the one fonnd in the house, one oil-tin, one bucket, one jar, saw, tomahawk, and a chisel, some crushed oats, seven empty sacks. There were about twenty bushels of grain or waste close by. The false bottom produced was inside the tub. The masher stick produced was there. There were marks of a recent fire, also part of a leg of mutton was hanging on a tree, Found tea and sugar there. A considerable quantity of wood was ready for use. There were hops in the second tin case, The things were brought away on the 4th August. Had great difficulty in bringing the things away. Found a track from the foot of the bill to Paul’s house. Mundy’s house was next to Paul’s, further away from the gully. Found a sledge at Paul’s house, which was the same width as the track. No evidence was called for the defence, Mr Hay. contending in the first place that the articles were not shown to be part of a still, and in tho second that they were not in accused’s possession. At the conclusion of the argument His Worship fined tho accused £2OO.