"DOCTORED" WHISKY.

Western Star, Issue 2215, 21 June 1898, Page 3

"DOCTORED" WHISKY.

District-Inspector Ball, of the Roya Irish Constabulary, stationed a Tralee, gave some startling evidence before the Royal Licensing Commis sion, presided over by Lord Peel. He ascribed the preference now showr for porter as compared with whisky not only in his own district but in many parts of Ireland, to the fact that the spirit was adulterated in some way which at present could not be detected. He had often seen men in a state of intoxication bordering on madness, which could not have been produced if the whisky had not been adulterated. Men drunk over night had not the slightest idea in the morning what they had done, and expressed the greatest astonishment and regret when told. He produced a recipe for making whisky, which he obtained under somewhat peculiar circumstan-

ces. On the occasion of a large fair which was attended by all the people from the country side around, who made it the occasion for a holiday, a publican in the place happened to be in gaol awaiting his trial on a charge of manslaughter. The son, a farmer

in the neighbourhood, visited his father in gaol for the express purpose of obtaining the recipe for preparing the whisky ready for the fair. The recipe, which fell into the hands of the police, was as follows—“ Two gallons of new whisky, one gallon of rum, half a gallon of methylated spirits, fnur gallons of water, and one drachm sulphate or copper, which was poison. All he knew was (hat he would not care drinking such a composition, especially the sulphate of copper, which was poison. Witness also gave an instance in which another publican had been overheard to say “ If you mix a little soap and water with €at porter von can work it up ard put a head on it.”