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COPY
Jonclosure 1.
30374
60
REC
ང་
R. v Heckrath and others.
REG 27 JUN 16! The three defendants E. Heckrath, a merchant, E. Rearden,
a widow, and E. Delcaire, amarried woman were charged before me on the 2nd December, 1915, with (a) unlawfully importing opium and (b) with being in unlawful possession of opium not on a mani- fest.
2.
The defendants were passengers travelling together in the Japanese Steemer S.S. "Mishima Maru", which arrived from London in Hongkong on the 1st December last and was en route to Yokohama. The opium the subject matter of these charges was seized in eight travelling boxes, which were in the Baggage Room and Parcel Room of the Steamer. Four of these boxes had luggage labels bearing Rearden's name and the remaining four boxes had luggage labels bearing the name of Delcaire. None of the boxes had labels bearing Heckrath's name.
3. It was proved by evidence given by a member of the crew of the "Mishima Maru" that these eight boxes were received in London by the ship from the Dock Company. It was not proved that they were received from any of the defendants nor that they were acknowledged by any of them on board. It was admitted that the three defendants embarked on the "Mishima Maru" at Harseilles together and that they sat together at the same table in the saloon during the voyage.
4.
A witness for the Crom, a Japanese Steward, from the ship gave evidence that on arrival in Hongkong, Heckrath had given him instructions to land four out of these eight boxes into the godown of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha at Yokohama. I did not believe that this witness was giving true testimony. His demeanour created an unfavourable impression. But, even if his bona fides is accepted, it seemed to me likely that there had been a misunderstanding about
the