Court Of Exchequer, Frida...
Timts was an inftornmation flnt tinev t rne y-IS xCuernrlerzC, wialglrug thc defendant withi having franditdently obtainsed 13 permits, pur- porting to be for the removal of foreign spirits to the defendant's stock, whereby he had incurired a penalty of o001. Sor each pernit. The case for the Crown was bricfly this:-In the last year cir- cumstances occurred Thich induced ihe Board of Excise to institute an inquiry into the accountis of the defendant, rho isa spirit-rectifier t Brichton. ini is mirvey-book were ftumd 13 permits, signed by an excise ofliccr narmed Clarke, authorizing the defendant to obtain a quantity of spirits to tbc arioutit of 478 gallons ot brandy, and 140 gallors ef Geneva, froni four spirit-dealers at Brighto';, named Franicis, Aflen, R.andall, and Daniels. All these persons swore that the-y 11-ver sold EIe defenIdant a single gallon whihl, the perinits sNiated hint to have received fromii themi). It v,.s therefore inferrel that thc defendant liad obtained the false penmits to eover an in- crease iln hi. stork occausonitd by the intro1dction of foreign spirits. For tr-.e deferdant it was atterrptcd to be made out, that the per- mlits had been obtained, not to cover the fraudulenit importation of 'breign spirits, but tc. acmunt for the rugmentation of stock occr.- sioned bv the rdluctiou of foreign spirits nine degrees a.bove proof (t!e ianlortation o' which is allowed) tn 17 degrees below proof. Clarke, who was the exise officer who signed tiaC pinnits c hich were the subjuat oF'the intora-a ion, but %v to has sinee retiretl front the service of the ex.cise, was called as a witness, and he stated that it WllS ihe custon) of excise officen to grant perrnits to cover the aunmenlation of stock under the circurnstancea above descrcbed. Ia a tewer to seine questions bv the (;HSEF BAiuor, however, he ad- ntitEed that it would have been his duoty to seize spirits when reduced in that mannecr. tir. CLARRE', whVo conducted the case for the Crown, said that he wstvn,d talte A verdict for the penalties on six of the permits Tbc jury irnmedititly found a verdict to that extent. COT!R.T OF EXCHEOUJER FnRrDAY, .JULY lr. THIE KING V. SlEE.