THE ILLICIT STILL CASES.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10268, 10 February 1899, Page 5

THE ILLICIT STILL CASES.

• SOME REMARKABLE EVIDENCE. HEAVY FINES IMPOSED. (PBESS ASSOCIATION- TELEGRAM.) REEFTON, February 9. The Court was crowded all day at the hearing of two charges against John Mitchell for having an interest in illicit stills on October 14th and January 20th respectively. Mr McDowell, Collector at Greymouth, _wc__ that Mitchell was an informer by letter on the illicit still case for which one Wieberlitz got six months in gaol, and also in connection with the discovery of the second still on January 20th, for which the old man Jennins was sentenced to pay £100 or be imprisoned for eight months. Jackson, who received a similar sentence for the last ease, swore that Wieberlitz, Mitchell and himself were j'lrtners, and he and Mitchell deliberately entrapped Weiberlitz and divided £50 received between them, also that they engaged Jennins and then put the police on to him. Weiberlitz gave corroborative evidence as to the first partnerships, and said there was an understanding if one got into gaol the others were to go on making whiskey and share the profits with him when he came out. Mitchell, in the box, denied all tbe allegations against him, but Mr Stratford fined him £100, or eight months' imprisonment, and £150, or twelve months' imprisonment, respectively. The sentence was greeted with applause. It is understood further developments are expected.