COCAINE IN RUBBISH HEAP

Grey River Argus, 8 December 1928, Page 1 (Supplement)

COCAINE IN RUBBISH HEAP

SEQUEL TO POLICE RAID. Following a raid by Scotland Yard officers on a house in Canning Town, London, three men were charged at the South-Western Police Court with stealing on September 20 a box of fortytwo tins, each containing an ounce of cocaine*, value £3O, the property of Messrs May and Baker, Ltd., of Church Road, Battersea. The three men were George John Smith (54), a labourer, and Albert Smith (20), a carman, both giving addresses at Buunel Street, Canning Town, and John Art/iur Morris (16). a labourer of Smith Street. Canning Town. The loss of the cocaine, contained in a wooden box. was discovered when the motor van carrying the box from the works at Church Road, Battersea, reached King George V. Dock. The cocaine was being sent to Dune din ,New Zealand. Detective Inspector Burnby, head of the Scotland Yard “dope squad." said that with other officers he raided the house in Brunei Street. He examined the rafters and found a tin, which was shown t 0 George Smith, who, when told that he would be arrested for stealing the cocaine, said, “I know nothing about it. I cannot help what my boy doos or what he brings here.” Inspector Burnby said that at this point Inspector Sharp arrived with Albert Smith, who was cautioned and told that a tin of cocaine iiad been found concealed. He made no reply. A litle later, with both pris< ners, he went to see a rubbish heap in the yard of the premises ,and ther? saw a black tin. This contained forty-one tins similar to the one found in the rafters of the house. They were the fortv-two missing tins of cocainc. When charged none of the three prisoners made any reply. Asked if he had anything to say, George Smith told Mr Marshall, th? Magistrate, “I know nothing about it.' ’ All three accused were remanded for a week, George Smith being allowed bail.