ILLICIT WHISKY STILL.

Mataura Ensign, 23 March 1909, Page 4

ILLICIT WHISKY STILL.

U.K.\Vy i'lM'iS iAM M >Si:i> I'iiiC UKilj;i) i'iM.SS ASSOCIATJON. WKLLIiWI'OiN. March :22. Maurice John Collins and Thomay Matthews were brought boiore Air W. (!. Kidded, IS.M., 10-ilay on the following charges.— 11) That Uu-y were on March liS, at Adoluide-road, unlawfully concerned in making' spirits; {'2) thai I hoy were found in a house \o. LI, Adelaide-road, whore illicit distillation was then carried on; (.13; that they were found in possession or in custody (it' a utensil suited for disUlliiig. Collins pleaded guilty lo being concerned in unlawfully making spirits, and at tlic request oi Mr Ui'll the other two charges against him were .withdrawn. Matthews pleaded not guilty to the throe charges. Both were convicted. Collins was lined JDIOU and Matthews tlie alternative in each case being six months' imprisonment. Chief Detective Broberg said he had gone lo the premises oil Thursday last. .Matthews was slauding in the doorway talking to someone. Detectives Cassells and Andrews went past the j ho use to go up a lane to got to the ' buck. Matthew*' ;i! lehiiuu was drawn to them, and lie immediately rushed in and locked the i'ront door. Witness ami Delective Lewis , burst in the i'ront door, and found accused endeavoring to lock the back door. The stiil was found in a back room. Matthews admitted thai, it was a whtisky still, ami showed, them a barrel containing spirits. Matthews said he had been working for the accused Collins tor three days, and had made the whisky during that time. The still, whisky and other utensils were removed, and accused taken to the station.