AN ILLICIT STILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8056, 17 September 1887, Page 5

AN ILLICIT STILL.

[by TELEGRAPH, —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Dcnedin, Friday. At the Police Court to-day, Arthur O'Hagan and John O'Hagan were charged with having in their possession an unlicenacd still, contrary to the provisions of the Distillation Act. The evidence showed that the defendants occupied live acres of land in the township of Broad Acres. A houso was erected, in which Arthur O'Hagan lived with his wife and family, and within a short distance of the house there was a hut of two apartments, in one of which John O'Hagan slept; in the other was found a still in position, and in full working order, as well as materials for distillation. In the house of Arthur O'Hagan a demijohn containing whisky and a book on distillation were found. In a shed near the house two casks containing wash barley in a prepared state for distilling purposes was found. From information received, the police got Mr. Chamberlain, Inspector of Distilleries, to accompany them to the defendant's place., On the way they met two defendants driving a cart They stopped the cart, and on searching it found a vessel which had evidently been used to contain whisky. They then got the defendants to go back to their place with the result already related. Mr. Denniston, who appeared for the accused, contended that there was not sufficient evidence to convict Arthur O'tiagan, and pleaded in extenuation that he had a wife and family. The Bench inflicted a fine of £50 each, or six months' imprisonment, the apparatus to be confiscated.