ILLICIT SALE OP METHYLATED SPIRIT. 
431 
Mr. Watson said it would be observed that he again omitted the y, and substituted the 
ee, as if any orthographical change could make any difference in the non-permissibility 
of using it. The reason why the charges had stood over so long was because the analy¬ 
tical chemist had been unwell, and unable to travel until now. 
Mr. William Lane was then called. He said: In August last I was supervisor of ex¬ 
cise in Preston. In pursuance of instructions from Somerset House, I called at Mr. Bell’s 
shop in Friargate. He is a chemist and druggist. I saw in the shop one of his assistants; 
I believe it was Mr. Bell’s son. I asked for a pint bottle of Indian Brandee, and also a 
pint bottle of Indian Whiskee. I was supplied with the two bottles now produced, with 
the two labels upon them as now exhibited. I paid 6s. for each bottle.. Having pur¬ 
chased them, I took them to my office and put labels in my own handwriting upon them. 
I sealed both bottles up, and sent them to Somerset House Laboratory in the usual way. 
In June, 1864,1 cautioned the defendant against selling methylated spirits. I was ordered 
to do so by the authorities at Somerset House. 
The defendant, who conducted his own case, was here informed that he might ques¬ 
tion the witness upon his evidence. Instead of doing so, he said: The charge against 
me is for selling methylated spirit. We have not had any on our premises for six years. 
Mr. Paul Catterall: You had better confine yourself now to asking questions.—De¬ 
fendant : Did I not come to you (Mr. Lane) about six or seven years ago, and tell you, 
in your own parlour, that I had some thoughts of making a medicine of spiiits oi nitre, 
which we all know is a very useful medicine, and calling it a certain name ? Did I not 
say that spirit of nitre was unpalatable in the old way in which it had been used, and 
did I not ask you if I should be doing anything wrong if I manufactured it ? Mr. Lane : 
You asked me whether, by selling Indian Brandee, you were doing anything illegal, and 
I told you that there was no illegality about it, so long as there was no spirit in it. De¬ 
fendant: Did I not say spirits of nitre?—Mr. Lane: No.—Defendant: Well, I had 
nothing else to make it of. You must have said it and forgotten it—Mr. Lane : You 
said tinctures and syrups alone.—Defendant: There is nothing but spirits of nitre in it, 
and that is sold by every chemist in the town. 
Mr. Paul Catterall: We will hear what you have to say afterwards; you must now 
confine yourself to asking questions. 
Defendant (to Mr. Lane): I wrote to you to tell you that we never had methylated 
spirits, and I can give abundant proof of that. I travel a great deal myself, and was at 
Sheffield when my son told me of this affair.—Mr. Lane: I received the letter that morn¬ 
ing.—Defendant: It is two or three months since I sent it.—Mr. Lane (in answer to Mr. 
Watson): It is six or seven years since he came to me. That was before the passing of 
this Act of 1861. The defendant had no licence to sell methylated spirits. 
Mr. Win. Ilarkness was next called. He deposed: I am an analytical chemist em¬ 
ployed at Somerset House. I received, at the laboratory there, the two bottles spoken 
to by Mr. Lane, and which I now produce. I made an analysis of their contents. Speak¬ 
ing of the bottle with the label c< Indian Brandee ” upon it, I found that its contents con¬ 
sisted of 76 per cent, of methylated spirit, and that it was sweetened with treacle. There 
was no nitre whatever in it. Methylated spirit can be purchased at 2s. 9 d. per gallon, 
and the bottle which Mr. Lane paid 6s. for contains about a pint of the mixture. Its 
cost would be less than Is. Speaking of the bottle marked with the label “ Indian 
Whiskee,” I have analyzed its contents, and find that it contains 72 per cent, of methy¬ 
lated spirit, and that it is sweetened with sugar. There is not a particle of nitre in it. 
These liquids are rendered potable, and may be used as a beverage. In its present state 
and quality it is equal to strong gin, highly sweetened. I should say it is pernicious to 
health, through the naphtha in it. The only material difference between the brandee 
and the whiskee is that one is coloured and the other is not. The contents of both bottles 
are rendered fit for use as a beverage. They must have been flavoured, mixed, and pre¬ 
pared, which are prohibited by the Act. These mixtures are well known in some places 
and are called “ the teetotaller’s nightcap.” They will both “ cheer ” and “ moderately 
inebriate.” . 
Defendant: You call yourself an analytical chemist, but you must be a tyro, in an 
important matter of this kind we must have analytical chemists on both sides. I am 
prepared to swear, and prove, that we have not had a gallon of methylated spirit on our 
premises for six or seven years. We use methylated nitre. You say there is treacle in the 
brandee. I deny that statement in toto, and I can bring you plenty of proof. 
