ILLICIT STILL

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21315, 7 November 1934, Page 16

ILLICIT STILL

FINE OF £IOO OVER-PROOF WHISKY AND LIQUEUR FOUND A line of £IOO and an order for costs was imposed on John Penberthy Bashford, aged 56 years, of Hornby, for being in possession of an unlicensed still at Hornby, in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., was on the bench, and Chief-Detective W. H. Dunlop conducted the case for the police. When lit was first called, Bashford would make no pica, as his solicitor was not in court, as he had said that the case would be remanded. Though lie was ready to go on with the case the chief detective said he was not opposed to a remand, and Bashford was ordered to stand down to see what arrangements could be made for bail. At the end of the other cases Bashford was called again, but said that he would plead guilty. Early on Monday morning the still was raided in Leslie's road, Hornby, by a party consisting of Detective J. McClung, "Mr C. O. Eyre, acting-collec-tor of customs, Mr J. E. Rundle, subcollector, Detective A. M. Harding, and Constable E. A. Dunn.

The first thing found was a cask containing from five to seven gallons of whisky, a bottle of whisky, and the still in a lean-to. Accused had admitted the presence of the whisky, but had denied making it. He had been canvassing for orders at the price of 50s a gallon. The worm for the siill was missing, and though accused would not say where it was. he intimated that it was "not within 20 miles of here." There was also a poor imitation of the liqueur creme-de-menthe. Accused had a wine-making license issued in February, and there was some parsnip wine at the shed. The whisky was 10 per cent, over-proof. ".Vhen Bashford was recalled he said that the worm had never been in his possession, and that he had never used it. He would plead guilty. The magistrate: You are liable to two years' imprisonment for this. If you give the police your help concerning the worm you will probably be treated more leniently. Bashford then denied knowing where the whisky had been made. Mr Eyre, who was conducting the case for the customs department, said that there was a hole made in Ihe chimney in the washhousc suitable for the still. The chief detective: Might I suggest that I get a bottle of the stull for you, your Worship? In a statement Bashford said that he was a "C" class man. and had been employed at 30s a week. He had obtained a wine-making license in February, and had hoped to make enough that way to go without sustenance. At his request he had been modified to a "B" class man so as to earn more, but his first employment was on the hills. He had had to go from Hornby to the Takahe and carry sods up the hill. It nearly killed him and he had to spend a week in bed after it. The magistrate: I will read you a rmall section of the act. The maximum fine is 41500 and the minimum -£5 O. and the imprisonment, in default, is fixed at a maximum of two years and a minimum of six months. "However I am not going to fine you £SOO. nor sentence you to two years' imprisonment. Accused was fined £IOO and ordered to pay costs. In default of payment within 14 days distress, and in default of distress he was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. The whisky and the apparatus were ordered to be forfeited to the Crown.