THEFT OF OPIUM.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 10, 12 July 1910, Page 7

THEFT OF OPIUM.

TWO MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT. William Walter Burgess appeared on remand at tho Magistrate's Court this luorninfc to answer a charge of having on the 7th July stolen sixty-eight ounces of opium, valued at £19 5s 4d, the property of Alexander Young. Defendant had admitted the offenco on Saturday last, and was represented by Mr. P. W. Jackson. Chief Detective Broberg said that accused went to Young's chemical works on tho evening of tho 7,th July, entered by a back window, and stole tho sixty-eight ounces of opium contained in small jars, from a box upstairs. Accused, when arrested, explained that on two ,or three different .occasions hs mot a inn.n whom ho j know by sight, and this man suggested that, teeing ihat the promises bad been broken into before. Burgess should steal some "more of the opiuni. Together the two ment to tho vicinity of the works, and while his friend waitjCrt some digtunoo awq.y, accused got the opium. They then vvent to Haining-streot with tho booty, but this time Burgess waited outside, while his friend went inside to^disposo of the stuff to Chinese. The "friend" disappeared, however. None of tho opium had been recovered. On the previous occasion when Burgess stolo opium he had the koys of tho premises. With the excoption of this conviction, the only other conviction agairiat him was ono for arson in 1907, but this was an act of mischief more than anything else. . Mr. Jackson submitted that Burgess's fault aro=e from a woakneas in being led away by others. Tho acquaintance, whom accused knew only by tho name of "Jack," was really "move to blamo than Burge&j himself, who was scarcely twentyone yea-rs of age. Mr. \y." "G. Riddell, S.M., Eaid that leniency iiad been extended to accused on the previous occasion in the hope that ho would mend his -nays. Thib ho had failed to do, urid the warning had been quite ineffective. Burgess v convicted and sentenced ,to two war inipriao/iuicut. Excelsior Lodge of Druids, t No. 11, held its ' fortnightly meeting last jiight iv the Druids ? Hall, Tyranaki-stieet. Tho balance-sheet -was adopted. It showed an increase of menibetfc. tor the lust half year. Fiy.o new members were initiated 'into the order. Bro. F. \V. Brown, A.8., presided.