The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-11-30 00:00:00

AN ILLICIT DISTILLERY AT EDGE-HILL.

Thomas Bobbie alias Johnston, of 88, Chatsworth-
street, Edge-hill, was charged for keeping an illicit dis-
tillery. Mr. Tyndall appeared for the Inland Revenue' •
and Mr. Deighton instructed by Mr. Anderson for the
defence. Mr. Tyndall said the information was laid
under the 23rd and 24th Victoria, chap. 48, sec. 114,
and contained two counts, one for a penalty of £2OO for
being the tenant of the house, and another for a like
sum of £2OO for the still being found there. He said
the defendant took the house No. 88 from Mr. Brown'
house agent, Edge-hill, in the name of Thos. Thompson,
and he subsequently took No. 86 in the name of Thos.
Wignall, and it would be proved that when the officers
made the seizure, some children of the defendant claimed
some blinds that were there as belonging to them.' The
defendant took the house No. 88 as he stated for the
purpose of carrying on the wholesale confectionary
business. He then called the following witnesses to
sustain the use. Thomas Middleton, supervisor or
excise, said : 1 went to 86, Charlotte-street, with a.-/-
search warrant on the 24th October. Went to No. 88
first, and saw several children there—(laughter:—and
some one sotto voce—that's a clear case of distillery,
Laughter.) The witness went on to • say, I saw a girl
about 16, and asked her who lived there ? Mr. Deigh-
ton objected to this evidence. The witness went on to
say-L6ot'into No. 86 and found a still in the cellar ; it
would hold 47 gallons, and was,set up with brick work,
and appeared to be recently used. There were three
hogsheads, casks with. wash made from treacle, and in
the back cellar there were casks -of wash in various
stages of fermentation. He described some instru-
ments for trying the gravity of wash, spirits,
&c., and other things connected with distillation.
To Mr. Deighton : Never saw Bobbie there. Mr.
French, an officer of excise, was examined, and said he
was at the seizure made of the distilling materials. Mr.
Cameron, the collector of excise,
.said he knew the
defendant who had grey hair and a lame leg—(laughter)
—and met him in Church-street, by accident, on the
24th October, and told him we had paid him a visit that
day, when he replied, "Yes, but you got nothing?,
Charles Frost, a lad from Mr. Brown's estate office,
Edge-hill, proved that Mr. Thompson lived at 88,
Chatsworth-street—(laughter)—and that he paid rent
for the house No. 86. (More laughter.) Mr. Thomt,..
son's sons paid rent for the house. Mr. Deighton
wished to know what that had to do with the defendant?
He really never heard such evidence in his life. mi..
-Brown,- house agent, was examined as to the letting of
the houses to a man named Thompson, the supposed
defendant. Mr. Hardon, from Messrs. MeFie's, proved
that a man named John Thompson, who was bald 'and
had light hair, used to purchase treacle there—(laugh_
ter—and gave his address Chatsworth-street, Edge-hill.
Several other witnesses were examined with the view
of identifying Thompson as the defendant. Mr.
Deighton submitted that there was no case made out
against his dicta. Mr. Tyndall said he omitted to call
one witness. Mr. Deighton objected, as the case had
closed. Mr.--Raffles said- he would hear the evidence,
but would take a note of the objection. A man named
W. C. Kitchen was then called, but his evidence was
not material, as he knew nothing about it, just likethe
other witnesses. Mr. Tyndall then- endeavoured to
convict the defendant by putting in some documents as
his handwriting. Mr. Deighton again submitted that
there was no case made out against the defendant, but hisworship was of opinion that the case was proved,
and fined' the defendant in a mitigated penalty of £lOO.
Mr. Deighton gave. notice of appeal in the case. [lt
appeared that the defendant had been previously con-
victed of a similar offence.]
THE CASE ABOUT THE BILL Of EXCrIANGE.
II
J. Willett was brought up on remand, charged
with
froml haying obtained a bill of exchange for £25 odd
B. Imhoff. Mr. Cobb appeared for the prosecu-
tionand Mr. Bluck for the prisoner. In addition to
the details published in out paper of yesterday, Mr.
Cobb said there was another charge of obtaining a bill
for £23 from
William the same prosecutor. He called Mr.
Bettison, of the firm of Griffiths and Bettison,
who said.--The risoner gave the bill to my partner
to get discounted. We refused ; but in consequence
of his pressing
him •30s. on account us'
money, I gave
and owing us
it except he count of the bill. I would not give
said distinctly he had
the bill to us. He
Held the bill against lad given value for it in marble.
until I saw what the
his account, but did not enter it
the bill was the pr se result would be. Mr. Cobb said
bill to get money property of the acceptor, as he gave the
prisoner was to have a He asked the prosecutor if the
replied not a penny. 17 portion of the money, and he
the bill belonged to their. Raffles said he doubted that
certainly, but the difficultyacceptor. There was a fraud
was how to reach it. He
thought there was a false
pretence-in passing the bill to
Messrs. Griffiths, and saying_
for value in marblit was a bone fide transaction
Mr. Blucksaid Griffiths his client would pay
the '3os. to Messrs. Griffiths,
ner had got other bills, and Mr. Cobb said the priso-
was clearly attempting to
swindle.. Mr. Raffles said e thesziid prisoner had better not
try such a game here.
sufficient, and discharged the not think the evidence
prisoner.

A Berlin leder says there is more and nthe proba .
bility every day of seeing the annexation effected by
Piedmont recognised by Prussia..