SECRET STILL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20454, 6 November 1934, Page 8

SECRET STILL.

Police Find at Hornby.

PENALTY OF £IOO. TRIED TO SELL WHISKY TO HOTELS. A fine of £IOO was imposed on John Penberthy Bashford, 56 years of age, of ‘ Hornby, when he was charged in the Police Court this morning with being in possession of an unlicensed still. Evidence was given that 'Bashford had made quantities of over-proof whisky and endeavoured to sell it to hotels. Bashford appeared before Mr E. D. Mosley', S.M., as a result of a raid made on his house yesterday by Customs and police officers, when liquor and portions of a still were impounded. Bashford at first pleaded not guilty', saying that Mr Hunter, who, he said, was his counsel, would not appear today as a remand would be granted. Chief-Detective Dunlop said that Bashford was arrested yesterday', following on the raid. It was intended that the case should be taken by the Customs Departmexit, with the Crown Prosecutor conducting. A vital portion of the equipment—the worm—had not been found, he added. The Magistrate: I am afraid the worm will turn if it is not found. The chief-detective: The trouble is that he will probably' try' to make more whisky when it does turn up. The accused, after he had been remanded until November 13, was taken out of Court to talk to Detective J. M’Clung, in order to ascertain if he would disclose the whereabouts of the No Preventive. On their return, the chief-detective said that Bashford now said he would plead guilty to the offence. That, however, would not stop him from making more liquor. It was then decided to proceed with the case. Mr C. O. Eyre, acting-Collector of Customs, said that yesterday', with Mr Rundle, a Customs officer, and Detectives J. M’Clung and A. A. Harding and Constable J. Dunn, he went to Hornby' and searched the accused’s house in Leslie’s Road. A keg. containing five to seven gallons of whisky, several bottles of whisky and portion of a still used to make it were taken from a shed at the rear. The accused admitted that the liquor was whisky, but denied that the still had been used to make it. How is the Home Brew? “ Bashford sold the whisky at 50s a gallon, and canvassed a dozen or more hotels trying to sell it,” continued Mr Eyre. ” Also in his stock was a bottle of inferior imitation creme de menthe. This man owns a wine-making license, which was taken out last February.” “How is the home-brew?” asked the Magistrate. The chief-detective: Whew! It differs from the real Hokonui. Mr Ey’re said that the whisky' appeared to be about ten over-proof, but it had not yet been properly tested. The accused, he added, would not disclose where the worm was, saying that it was not within twenty miles. .Bashford said that he did not know where the worm was; indeed, he had not the remotest suspicion. The Magistrate: When did you last use it?—l never used it. The Magistrate: Someone must have. That’s very evident.—l have been honest about the still, whisky and worm. I have never made whisky on my premises. Mr Ey r re said that he had been informed by' Detective M’Clung that the chimney' in the shed where the still was found was cut so that a worm could be fitted into it. Bashford: If there had been an opportunity to get a market, I would have considered using the still. Magistrate Refuses Bottle. At this stage, the chief-detective offered the Magistrate a bottle of the whisky'. “No thanks,” replied Mr Mosley. “ I’ve more respect for myself.” The accused, continuing, said that he could do only light work, and had practically no employment over the past four y'ears. He applied for and secured a wine makers’ license, and then got on to relief work for three day's a week. It was intended to put him on sustenance, and he thought that this would give him time to build up a stock of wine to mature, and thus enable him to make some money. But the Unemployment Board heard of the idea, and would not put him on sustenance. Could Not Get Work. “ I was put oil to one day a week, and then two days’ work,” he continued. “ This gave me £1 to keep a wife, a family and myself. I have to have a special certificate owing to my' health. I went to a doctor, and was classed ‘ C,’ but then the Labour Department would not give me work, saying that I was the concern of the Hospital Board. “ The doctor who made out my’ medical certificate modified it to class B, and then I was sent to Cashmere to work—from Hornby’ to Cashmere to work on the hills for two day's a week! It nearly killed me.” The Magistrate pointed out to Bashford that he was liable to a fine of not more than £SOO and not less than £SO, or from six months’ to two y'ears’ imprisonment. The accused declared that he was almost penniless. Bashford was convicted and fined £IOO and costs, being allowed fourteen days to pay’, in default six months’ hard labour. The whisky and still were ordered to be confiscated.