ALLEGED ILLICIT DISTILLATION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5004, 11 May 1889, Page 3

ALLEGED ILLICIT DISTILLATION.

(By Telegraph.)

GREY MOUTH, May 11

The case of alleged illicit distillation occupied the court all yesterday. A number of witnesses were examined for the prosecution. Two publicans swore to accused trying to sell them whiskey at 16s a gallon, and telling them ho made it up there (meaning Brunnertou). Evidence of alleged experts was called on behalf of tho accused, to show that the appliances seized were too crude aud altogether inadequate for the manufacture of whiskey. The magistrate gave judgment this morning. Ho had no doubt Taylor had been making whiskey on his premises, and had made the whiskey seized, but the evidence on that point was defective. He, however,found him guilty on two charges,—first for having more than the lawful quantity of spirits in tho brewery j for this he was fined £25, or three months imprisonment. Tho second charge was for baling spirits in his possession on which duty had not been paid. His Worship held that the onus of proof rested on defendant to show how he came by the spirits and whether the duty was paid. Defendant was fined on this charge £IOO, or three months’ imprisonment. Taylor was taken to gaol.