OPIUM SMUGGLER FINED
PLEA OF IGNORANCE FAILS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, July .15. In the Police Court this morning, Cathelus Macpherson pleaded guilty to a charge of illegally importing prepared opium and was fined £2OO. The collector of customs stated that when the Manuka arrived from Melbourne, 29 tins of opium, weighing 14jrlbs, with a retail value of f 230 were found among defendant’s possessions. He admitted it was opium, stating that he was bringing it to New Zealand to be retailed. Mr. Irw'v for defendant stated that he held a master's certificate, but, being out of work, shipped before the mast. In Melbourne he was approached by a man who painted such a rosy picture of the profits that he purchased for £5O the opium offered. When spoken to at Dunedin he stated that he had what was sold him as opium. The magistrate said accused pleaded ignorance, but it was almost obligatory for a master mariner to know his duties.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19290716.2.11
Bibliographic details
Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1929, Page 2
Word Count
162OPIUM SMUGGLER FINED Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1929, Page 2
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Taranaki Daily News. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.