MOST DESPERATE GALLING

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1932, Page 5

MOST DESPERATE GALLING

DEALING WITH COCAINE

PUNISHMENT AT AUCKLAND EFFORT TO SELL THE DRUG ANOTHER MAN ACQUITTED By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. “Dealing in cocaine is one of the most desperate callings on earth and the League of Nations has been doing its best to prevent it,” said Mr. I*. K. Hunt, S.M., in sentencing Harold Stanley Lodder, aged 36, a service car driver, to prison for six months at the Police Court this morning on a charge of dealing in a dangerous drug on May 31 in contravention of the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1927. John Aitken Fairley, aged 47, a boiler cleaner, was jointly charged with Lodder, but the magistrate gave him the benefit of the doubt and dismissed the charge. Both men pleaded not guilty. Frank Robert Shaw, a deep sea diver, said he knew Fairley, they having once been in the Royal Navy together. He first met Fairley 16 years ago in Devonport, England, on May 26. Witness was having a drink in a bar of a city hotel when he met both Fairley and Lodder. Fairley approached witness and said, “Do you want any cocaine? That’s what’s called snow.” Witness said he had never seen any before. Fairley had no cocaine but Lodder showed witness some which he had in a small round box. Witness said, “It looks like Epsom salts; I wouldn’t give you threepence for the lot.” “Lodder said that Fairley had been let down and wanted to get his money back,” continued Shaw. “I understood from what was said that Fairley had bought it while he was drunk. Fairley was drunk when I was with him. One of the men, I can’t say which one, told me that the cocaine was the dinkum stuff.”

Detective-Sergeant Kelly: Who had the cocaine? —Lodder.

INTERVIEW BY DETECTIVES.

Detective Hayes said lie went to Ellison Chambers, Queen Street, about 0 a.m. on May 31 and met Lodder coming out of the building. He. questioned Lodder about cocaine and he admitted having some. He said he was trying to sell it for a man named “Jock.” Lodder pointed out Fairley, who was just along the street, as “Jock.” Fairley Was then accosted. He said he was waiting for Lodder. He denied all knowledge about dealing in cocaine. Both men were taken to the detective office. Witness added that Fairley’s name was written on the box containing the cocaine. Counsel for Fairley: The name of the box of cocaine is spelt “Fairlie,” so obviously it was not written by Fairley himself.

Detective Wilson, detailing the arrest of Lodder, said that after being warned Lodder made a statement which he would not sign. In the statement Lodder said he had been connected with a chemistry some years ago and had been fined £5 in connection with another drug, Indian hemp. “Jock” had told him that be was in possession of cocaine and that he wanted to get some money. Ho did not say where he got it from. “Jock” asked Lodder if he could dispose of it, but although ho tried in three places he could not do so. Lodder said he had never had cocaine before.

“Well, I am convicting Lodder,” said the magistrate. “This is one of the most desperate callings on earth. He is sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, and that’s only half the penalty ho should get.” Fairley gave evidence. He said he was under the influence of liquor when he was introduced to Lodder. He had never dealt in cocaine. In fact he had never seen it before. The magistrate said there wj\s a. doubt in his mind and that he would give Fairley the benefit of the doubt. The charge was dismissed.