SMUGGLER VERSUS EXCISEMAN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1649, 7 October 1903, Page 67 (Supplement)

SMUGGLER VERSUS EXCISEMAN.

A Highlander named Donajld MtPherv son, of Badenoch, on one occasion started for Perth with a companion, leading two ponies carrying four casks in •j: i t.. Near Dunkeid they met ; three excisemen. Donald, who was & J powea-ful man, refused to deliver lip his i goods, and wielded with considerable effect a huge cudgel. One of bis enemies he knocked down. The thumb of one of the others he got between his teeth, ! while he defended himself from the remaining officer. His companion, who had fleet, took courage and returned, crying, “Weel, dune, Donald!” Donald replied, “I’ll Donlad ye gin I won through wi’ thir loons.” He was ae gtood as his word, for he gave him a sound drubbing. He afterwards got sare to Perth and sqld all his stuff. The same Donald on another occasion, though aware that seme friends of his of the name of Kennedy had been deprived on their way to Inverness by the Excise of a considerable quantity of whiskey, did not lack courage to start from Kingussie to the Highland capital with four casks. He met the .Excise and became on good terms with them, as they were old acquaintances who had caught him frequently. They, were at the time on their way to a bothy in Strathdearn, and not easily take charge of Donald’s stuff. The head man of the party told him that if he went to Inverness and placed the casks in his cellar he would not report him. Donald consented and the gauger gave him the key. On arriving at Inverness he sold his whiskey to advantage. He then went to the gauger’s house., and told his wife that he had been sent by her husband for the casks of whiskey in his cellar. She would not believe him til] he showed her the key, and said that if it did not fit the lock he would say no more. It did fit. The whiskey was delivered to him; he sold it in Inverness, and oil his return handed the price to his neighbours the Kennedys.