IMPOllTANT EXCISE PROSECUTION AT WOLVERHAMPTON. 
89 
Mr. Marshall: Very well; but the Board having had information given them— 
Mr. Motteram ; I don’t care what the Board were informed; I object to your speaking 
about any other case than the one we have to deal with. 
Mr. Spooner: I think, Mr. Motteram, Mr. Marshall has a right to state the reasons 
which led the Board to take these proceedings. 
Mr. Motteram: Very well. Sir; only don’t let us waste time by talking about other cases. 
Mr. Marshall: I merely wish to say what gave rise to these proceedings. The Board 
having information given them that chemists in the North of England were selling 
methylated spirits without a licence, gave certain instructions to Mr. M‘Rae, Supervisor 
of Excise in Wolverhampton, who went to the defendant’s shop on the 23rd of April, 
and asked for an article called “ Indian Essence.” He was served with the article, took 
it away, packed it up, and sent it to the laboratory at Somerset House for analysis. It 
was there analysed and was found to contain methylated spirits. 
Mr. Motteram : I admit all that. 
Charles M‘Eae, Supervisor of Excise in Wolverhampton, was called, and stated that 
on the day named he went to the defendant’s shop in Cock Street, and asked Mr. Eeade 
how he sold his “ Indian Essence.” Mr. Eeade replied “ 3af. per ounce and he ( wit¬ 
ness) inquired whether, as he wanted a large quantity, he would not make a reduction. 
Defendant asked how much he wanted, and witness said about three pints. Mr. Eeade 
said he would let him have some at the rate of 27s per gallon, but as he did not sell it 
by measure, but by weight, he would give him an equivalent weight to three pints. 
He was then served with a quantity of the mixture, equal to about three pints, or 1^ 
pound to each pint, and at witness’s request the mixture was put into three pint bottles, 
for which he paid 10s. 6d. The bottles were each labelled as follows:—“Eeade’s 
Original Indian Essence, a pleasant and effectual medicine, warming and comforting— 
Antispasmodic, Astringent, Diaphoretic, and Diuretic. Per fectly free from any injurious 
drugs, and may, therefore, be taken with the greatest confidence. Dose: Adults, one 
tablespoonful, to be repeated when required; children, one or two teaspoonfuls. Pre¬ 
pared by Thomas Eeade, chemist, 9, Cock Street, Wolverhampton. Only threepence 
per ounce.” Witness took the bottles to his office, in Church Street, and he afterwards 
forwarded two of the bottles, securely packed, to Somerset House. A portion of the 
third bottle he gave to the defendant’s solicitor, and the remainder he now produced. 
Cross-examined by Mr. Motteram: I was not suffering severely from spasms myself 
when I went to defendant’s shop. I believe I did say to defendant that I was unwell, 
and that I wanted to try his “ Indian Essence,” for the purpose of relieving me. I don’t 
think I said I had been recommended to try it. I won’t swear I did not say so. I can’t 
remember saying so.—Mr. Motteram: But I’ll make you remember a good many things 
presently. Seek to convict a man fairly, and then I don’t care.—Witness: I did not go 
to the shop for any purpose.—Mr. Motteram : Why you went to convict him ; what did 
you want with three pints?—Witness: The Commissioners of Inland Eevenue had in¬ 
structed me to get three pints.—Mr. Motteram : And did you not resort to this expe¬ 
dient to get three pints ? Did you not say that you wanted some to send away to 
persons who recommended you to try it ?—Witness: I can’t remember that I did.— 
Mr. Motteram: Don’t fence with the questions in that way. Did not the defendant tell 
you that he did not sell it by measure, but by weight?—Witness: He did.— Mr. Mor- 
teram: And he also told you that if you took a large quantity he would let you have 
it for 3s. per pound?—Witness: He did.—Mr. Motteram: You are a Scotchman, are 
you not, Mr. M‘Eae?—Witness: Yes.—Mr. Motteram : And, as a Scotchman, did vou 
not the next moment try to cheapen with Mr. Eeade, and say it was very dear ?—Wit¬ 
ness : I believe I did ; but I can’t remember these little things.—Mr. Motteram; They 
are not little things. Sir; they are most important things, and very disgraceful things. 
In consequence of what you said, did not Mr. Eeade say at last, that if you took a large 
quantity you should have it at the wholesale price, 2s. 8d. per pound ?—Witness: I 
believe he did.—Mr. Motteram: Did you then try to cajole him on to sell it you by 
measure?—Witness: I was ordered to buy it by measure.—Mr. Motteram: And did 
you not try with all the cunning of a Scotchman to get it by measure?—Witness: I did 
not try any cunning. It did not matter to me whether I got it by weight or measure, 
so that I got the quantity I wanted. Defendant would only sell it by weight. I tasted 
the mixture after I bought it. I did not dislike it, nor I did not care much about it. 
I should say it is not a beverage. 
