GAOL FOR COCAINE

Evening Star, Issue 21319, 25 January 1933, Page 9

GAOL FOR COCAINE

ARREST AT LAW COURTS LARGE SEIZURE OF DRUG Arrested in the crypt of the London Law Courts a few weeks ago, William M'Donald, aged sixty-seven, engineer, was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment for being in unauthorised possession of of cocaine hydrochloride. The cocaine was contained in a glass jar said to have been found near a table where M'Donald was sitting at the time of his arrest.

Detective Inspector Law said that this was one of the 'largest quantities of cocaine seized by the police in _ recent years. In the ordinary way it was worth £45, but it would fetch a fabulous price if sold in an illicit manner. It was only in the last three weeks that M'Donald had been suspected of dealing in the drug. There were ten convictions against him, the first being in Melbourne, in 1892, when he received six months’ imprisonment as a rogue and a vagabond. " Prosecuting counsel said that on November 17 Detective-seregant Albert Haines saw M'Donald in the tea room at the Royal Courts of Justice, and told him he understood that he had some cocaine for sale. M'Donald replied that he had about Boz, and that he wanted £4O for it. He produced a basket containing a jar of cocaine. After tasting it, the sergeant said that it was' all right, and made an appointment to meet accused half an hour later. The appointment was kept by three other officers. They informed M'Donald there was reason to believe that he had cocaine in his possession. He said that he had not, and no cocaine was found upon him. He was taken away for an interview, and meanwhile a woman cleaner found the cocaine behind a pillar near the table at which M'Donald had been seated. She had just handed it to a person behind the bar when Sergeant Widocks returned and collected it. Detective-sergeant Haines, describing his interview with - M'Donald, said he gave his own name as Powell. M'Donald told him that he could get more cocaine every week, and perhaps at a cheaper price. _ • In cross-examination Sergeant Haines said that when he first entered the crypt M'Donald was in conversation with, another man. Just after his interview. he saw M'Donald joined by two other men, _ Defending Counsel: I put it to you that this interview never took place with M'Donald at all P—Oh, yes. Sergeant Haines added that he had a letter of introduction from a man to M'Donald. , „ _ , For the defence, Mr Henry Samuel Kean, solicitor’s managing clerk, said that shortly before the arrest he met M'Donald ‘and another man. in the crypt refreshment bar. He knew both men slightly. M'Donald asked if he could spare a minute, and they sat discussing a case with which witness’s late principal was dealing. _ During that time he. saw no cocaine in M'Donald s possession. M'Donald denied that he had any conversation with Sergeant Haines, or that he ever had any cocaine in hisi possession or offered to sell any.