THEFT OF OPIUM

Evening Star, Issue 17920, 16 March 1922, Page 5

THEFT OF OPIUM

[Tim United Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, March 15. _ A youtli named Charles Aloysios Wilkinson, laboratory assistant at Victoria Uuiversilv, was charged at the Police Court with the theft of opium valued at £l5O, the nrorietlv of the Government, and- another. Harold Faiichild Rebar, with, receiving. Accordmg to the prosecution, the Customs Department in 1915 forwarded a quantity of opium to the university ior alkaloids to be excreted, for use in the military hospitals and hospital ships. , Wilkinson had access to tins opium, the residue of which had been left in a barrel locked in the store room. The accused* admitted taking several tins, staling that he hoard students say that a lot c f money was going to waste, 'I lie opium was given to Pohar, who sold it to Chinese, tho proceeds being divided between them. The police visited premises of Chinese who were alleged to be purchasers, hut found nothing. Wilkinson pleaded guilty. Ho said ho was rpventeen years of age, Pohar gave him £SO. half share of the sales. Pohar also pleaded guilty. Each of the accused was committed to the -Supreme Court for sentence.