Rose From Sick-Bed To Hear Drugs Charge

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31071, 28 May 1966, Page 18

Rose From Sick-Bed To Hear Drugs Charge

(N.Z. Press Association! AUCKLAND, May 27.

Mr J. R. Drummond, S.M., left his sick-bed this morning to hear a charge against a 43-year-old United States seaman from the liner Monterey, which will sail tonight.

The seaman, W. H. Shelby, pleaded guilty and had elected summary jurisdiction on a charge of possessing a dangerous drug, Indian hemp.

He was fined £l5O. Immediate payment was ordered, in default three months’ imprisonment.

Sergeant M. K. Huggard said a customs boarding party which searched Shelby’s cabin yesterday fcund a packet of hemp wrapped in transparent paper and stuffed into the end of a shoe under a settee. Four cigarettes were also discovered under the settee. Two drawers under the bunk were removed and in the left-hand corner, hidden from view, was found a small paper bag containing three large packages of Indian hemp. A total of 64 grains, equal to 2.220 z of hemp, was found.

This could be used to make about 300 to 400 cigarettes. A letter addressed to Shelby by a well-known Auckland drug addict was also found in the cabin.

Shelby told the police the hemp was bought in Los Angeles. Mr Huggard said it was well known to police that crewmen from the Monterey had been in the habit of bringing dangerous drugs into the country.

For Shelby, Mr H. T. D. Knight said his client denied

knowledge of bringing drugs into the country and of giving drugs to the writer of the letter. Shelby denied being involved with the drug, other than smoking it. He also denied knowledge of heroin in the ship. The Magistrate was not well enough to attend the two-day magisterial conference being held in Wellington. Justices of the Peace sitting today were not able to deal with the case.