THEFT OF OPIUM.
LABORATORY ASSISTANT DOES SIDE BUSINESS. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 15 A youth named Charles Aloysiur Wilkinson, a laboratory assistant al Victoria University, was charged al the Police Court with the theft ol opium valued at £5O, the property -of the Government, and another. Harold Fairchild Sobar, with receiving. According to the prosecution, the Customs Department in 1915 forwarded a quantity of opium to the University for alkaloids to be extract ed for use in military hospitals and hospital ships. Wilkinson had access to the opium, the residue of which had been left in a barrel locked in a storeroom. The accused admitted taking several tins, stating he heard students say a lot of money was going to waste. The opium was given to Sobar sold it to Chinese, the proceeds being divided. The police visited the Chinese who were alleged to be the purchasers but found nothing. Wilkinson pleaded guilty. He said he was seventeen years' of age. Sobar gave him £3O, half the share of the sales. The actual value of the opium was about £4. Sobar also pleaded guilty. Each was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.
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Bibliographic details
Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18432, 16 March 1922, Page 6
Word Count
194THEFT OF OPIUM. Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18432, 16 March 1922, Page 6
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