ILLICIT DISTILLATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10104, 23 March 1909, Page 4

ILLICIT DISTILLATION.

(Peh Press Association.) Wellington, March 22. ' Maurice John Collins and Thomas Matthews were brought before Mr W. O. Riddell, S.M., to-day on the following charges :—(1) That they were, on March 18th, at Adelaide Road, unlawfully concorned in making spirits; (2) that they were found in a house (No. 4 Adelaide road) where illicit distillation was then carried on ; (3) that they were found in possession or in custody of a utensil suited 1 for distilling. Collins pleaded guilty_ to being concerned in unlawfully making spirits, and at the request of Mr Bell the other two charges were withdrawn. Matthews pleaded- not- guilty to the three charges. Both were convicted. Collins was'fined' £IOO and Matthews £SO, the alternative in each case being six months' imprisonment. Chief Detective Broberg said he had gone to the premises on Thursday last. Matthews was standing in the door talking to someone. Detectives Cassels and Andrews went past- the house to go up a lane to get to the back. Matthews' attention was drawn to them, ana he immediately rushed in and locked the door. Witness and Detective Lewis burst in the front door and found accused endeavoring to lock the back door. A still was found in a back room. Matthews admitted that it was a barrel con : tabling spirits. Matthews . sakl he had been working for Collins for three days, and had made the whisky during that time. The still, whisky, and other utensils were removed and accused were taken to the station.