THE BLUFF RAID

Southland Times, Issue 20618, 17 October 1928, Page 6

THE BLUFF RAID

UNCUSTOMED GOODS RESIDENT CHARGED WITH RECEIVING COMMITTED FOR TRIAL After two months’ delay, the receiving charge against Charles Jackson was heard in the Magistrate’s Court at Bluff yesterday before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M. On August 7, the Bluff police and Customs officials raided the house occupied by Jackson as a result of which goods valued at £9O 12/-, alleged to be stolen property, were discovered. The full charge against Jackson read: That on or about July 25 he did receive from Albert. Horace Harraway, a steward on the Northumberland, 21 quart bottles of Dewar’s whisky, 32 pint bottles of Haig’s whisky, one roll of worsted tweed suiting and five rolls of cotton goods, to a total value of £9O 12/-, well knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained. Accused, who was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, was represented by Mr A. F. Hogg. A plea of not. guilty was entered. Detective-Sergeant Hewitt, outlining the facts of the case, said Jackson was a married man residing at Bluff, and earning his livelihood on the wharf. When the police and Customs officials raided the house the whisky was found secreted in the ceiling and the tweed and dress material had been handed over also. Jackson had shown them where to find it. It was obvious from the amount of goods and their nature that any reasonable man should have known that they were not legitimately obtained. Inquiries had been made without result for Harraway, the other party to the case, but he had deserted from the ship at New Plymouth on the day the message of the raid on Jackson’s house had appeared in the newspapers there. The first witness called for the prosecution was John Layton Oughton, clerk on the staff of J. G. Ward and Co., who said his company was the agent for the Northumberland on her last trip. On arrival of the ship at New Plymouth it was found that six cases of whisky were missing, four cases of Dewar’s quarts and two of Haig’s pints. The value would be about £37. At Bluff the ship was short of six rolls of gingham and one large roll of tweed. The vessel came from Dunedin to Bluff and proceeded to New Plymouth. Missing Roll of Suiting. Frank Herbert King, managing director of a Dunedin firm of drapers, said that about July 16 he forwarded a case containing one roll of suiting through the Customs at Dunedin to Rycroft Bros., Bradford, England. It went forward by the Northumberland. The roll contained 64 yards and was valued at £42 12/-. He identified the roll of tweed produced. Edward Stephen Skipworth, police constable stationed at Bluff, said that on August 7 in company with Sergeant Tonkinson, Constable White and Mr W. M. Smith, customs officer, a visit was paid to accused’s house in McDougall street under a search warrant for uncustomed goods. When they arrived accused was working in his garden. Sergeant Tonkinson asked him where all the whisky was, saying it was common talk be was selling it at 11/- a bottle. He admitted having two or three bottles and went inside and produced three full quart bottles of Dewar’s whisky and another bottle containing three nips from the pantry. Jackson was questioned again and eventually got a step ladder and placed it under the trap-door in the ceiling of the kitchen. Witness climbed up and found 18 quart, bottles of Dewar’s whisky and 32 pint bottles of John Haig’s whisky, neatly stacked away. Witness handed it down. Sergeant Tonkinson also asked Jackson for the tweed he had and accused took them straight to the front room and handed over the big roll and four smaller rolls of cotton. They took possession of the goods and removed them to the customs house. Later witness and the sergeant returned to the house and Mrs Jackson handed over a small roll of dress material and several pieces made up. The goods produced were those recovered in Jackson’s house. Witness was present when accused made a statement, to Sergeant Tonkinson later in the afternoon. To Mr Hogg: When they returned the second time they found eight more bottles of whisky which were left there on the first occasion. Bottles Overlooked. Charles W. Tonkinson, sergeant of police at Bluff, corroborated the evidence of Constable Skipworth except for one small detail that six instead of eight bottles were procured on the second visit to Jackson’s. These bottles were some of tbosr bfough* dowu trom the ceiling, but which had been overlooked. Had it not been for accused’s wife they would have overlooked them altogether. Witness took a statement from accused in which Jackson said his wife gave Harraway £l. Harraway brought the stuff to his house and said that if he (Jackson) did not take it he would dump it. Jackson said to witness he was sorry for what he had done and added that he knew he had done wrong. Mr Hogg to the Sergeant: Jackson is a slow thinking and slow speaking man and we can take it that the wording of the statement is mainly yours? Seargeant: No. I said to him “You are in the soup,” or words to that effect, “and you had better let me in the know so that I can get the boys who stole the goods.” Witness did not know if that was the first time the word “stole” occurred in their conversations. William Mowbray Smith, customs officer also gave evidence. Mr Hogg submitted that the case for the prosecution was not strong and not one to warrant Jackson’s trial in the higher court. The admission that he knew he had done wrong was not in regard to the stolen goods, but to the fact that he may have committed an offence by selling whisky without a license. He had been doing that for a long time. Detective-Sergeant Hewitt said it was sufficient to show that Jackson received the goods under circumstances which showed they must, have been dishonestly obtained. The Magistrate said he could not dismiss Jackson was committed to the Supreme Court for trial at the session opening in Invercargill on November 13. Bail was allowed on one surety of £lO9. Counsel for the defence said his client would plead guilty to the secondary charge of being in possession of uncustomed goods to be heard when the present case is settled.