LIQUOR PROSECUTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20116, 29 November 1928, Page 14

LIQUOR PROSECUTION.

POLICE CASE FAILS. ALLEGED " PLANT " IN YARD. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN COR RESPONDENT. 1 HAMILTON". Wednesday. A verdict of not guilty was returned by the jury in the case continued before, Mr. Justice Blair in the Hamilton Supreme Court to-day in which Joseph Machin (Mr. E. H. Northcroft.) was charged with keeping liquor for sale at Taumariinui, a proclaimed area. The police gave evidence yesterday that they visited accused's yard at 2.30 a.m. on August 11 and found 27 bottles of whisky under a heap of rubbish. fhat evening, I hey said, they saw Machin approach the heap and remove what looked like a bottle. Foi the defence Machin denied any know ledge of 'he "plant" of whisky. He denied that It.' went neai the place when: lhe whisky was hidden. He said he ,vas wearing a suii of a colour different from rhat described by the police. Evidence was gi\eit today by Mrs. F.l.sic Clara Machin, wife of accused. I hat. she conducted ,i fancv goods and tobacco shop next to her husiiand's garage. On the evening ef tin police Visit she had a bottle and a-ha If of whixkv in the house, which she had obtained through the proper channels.

In answer to I lie ('row n Solicitor, Mr. H. T. Gillies, witness admitted that 10 years ago she had been fined for a

breach of th» licensing law. She was also fined t_2fl some months ago for having purchased 12 bottles of whisky and eight do/en bottles of ale within six rtionl lis.

After a retirement of three hours fho jury touiid accused not guilty and he was ill.si liargcd.