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The Maryport Advertiser - Friday, July 7, 1882
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WHITEHAVEN NEWS.
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SMUGGLING TOBACCO. - At the Whitehaven Police-court on Monday, HARRY
HUTCHINSON, steward of the (s) Swan, was charged with smuggling 26-3/4 lbs.
of tobacco.  MR. COATES, collector of Customs, prosecuted, and MR. CHAPMAN
defended.

>From the evidence of J. MC.CONNELL and FISHER WILLIAMSON, Custom House
Officers, it appeared that on the vessel being boarded on its arrival at
Whitehaven, on the previous Wednesday, the 28th of June, in reply to the
usual questions, defendant stated that 21 lbs. of tobacco, which he showed
them, was all the tobacco he had, but on examining his locker the officer
found underneath a false bottom 26-3/4 lb.s of tobacco.

In cross examination, witness admitted that defendant voluntarily opened the
locker for him to examine it.  CAPTAIN JAMES SMITH stated that he sailed
from Cardiff for Spain, and on doing so handed 50 lbs. of tobacco to the
steward for the use of the crew during the voyage.  He reported that he had
7 lbs. left.

Witness received a good character of the defendant from the last captain who
took charge of the ship.

In reply to MR. CHAPMAN, the witness said he supposed that the tobacco found
would have been dealt out to the crew in the usual way, and he did not think
the defendant voluntarily showed the place where the tobacco was kept, that
it was where he usually kept the tobacco for the ship's crew, and that there
was no deliberate intention to defraud.

The magistrates considered that they ought to inflict the severe penalty of
£10, or two months' imprisonment.
_______________________________________________________________

BREACH OF THE PEACE. - WILLIAM LITTLE was bound over in £5 to keep the peace
for six months for fighting with another man on the Embankment on Sunday
afternoon last.
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