OLD THAMES.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 19850, 30 October 1936, Page 2

OLD THAMES.

AN ILLICIT STILL.

The Police Foiled.

A £2OO REWARD,

AND A STARTLING CLIMAX. Here is a story of old Thames unknown by the present generation. It is all true, and conveys to us these days a hint. of Thames life when gold was coming out of the hills in ton lots. Up in the Hape Creek there was an illicit still. Skilfully hidden, it earned on producing a fiery spirit for some considerable time. But fiews filtered through to the police of its existence, ana diligent searches were made to locate it. However, police work in those days was not up to the standard of these times, and the still could not be found.

But something had to be done. So the Government offered a reward of £2OO to'the person who could give information .which would lead to its discovery.

This had an effect, for one night a miscreant sidled into the police station and sought a private —very private —interview with the sergeant. He could take the police to the very spot. He was sure he would not fail —but —he hesitated and looked fearfully around. At last, after some encouragement, he put up a proposition. If he lead the police to the still would they pay him the reward and let him get out of the town quickly, as he feared he would not hare long to live if it was discovered that he was an informer? The old miners, it seems, did not like police informers. The sergeant communicated with his principals, and it was agreed that if, on the following night, the informer put them in possession of the still by divulging its whereabouts, the reward wquld be paid and the shabby gentleman would be allowed to shake the dust of Thames off his feet as fast as he could.

Came the next night. It was col< and dark as the informer led tin police up the slippery paths of Hap. Creek. Finally he whispered tha they were close on the spot, and they must follow him. quickly, bu: silently. A few turns, and the in former led them into a concealec hole in the side of a hill. Alas! the owner of the still was not in, bvtt the police tfound tin copper worm, some vats with spirit, and all the apparatus necessary The plant had at long last been run to earth. The informer became very agitated. What would happen if he were seen in the company of the police?—he was terribly afraid. The police held a consultation. Secure in the belief that they had only tc wait patiently in the dark for the illicit distiller to come home to his den, they decided to pay the informer and let him "beat it." This lie quickly did, hardly waiting to say •'Thank you."

Then the police, gleefully made themselves comfortable, satisfied that at long last they had brought to book the nefarious scoundrel who robbed Her Majesty's Government of excise money. But they waited and waited. They kept vigil for several days and nights, and still the. wanted man did not show up. At last the ghastly truth came out, and the sergeant nearly tore his uniform off with rage! The illicit distiller; having made a small fortune with his wares, and becoming apprehensive at the constant police search for his lair, had decided to close down and get out. When the reward was offered he saw a chance to sell out—to the police! So he became an informer on himself, and, collecting the reward, went to other fields, and it is said "lived happily ever after!"