§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, with reference to the case of a person who was summoned by the Inland Revenue authorities at West Ham Police Court, on Wednesday last, for selling intoxicants without a licence, whether the samples upon which the prosecution was instituted were taken so long ago as October 18 last; upon what date those samples were analyzed; what proportion of alcohol was found in them; and why proceedings against the seller were delayed for more than four months?
§ MR. JACKSONSamples of so-called beer and wine were purchased on October 18th last as stated. The samples of beer were analyzed on October 19th, the day following, and found to contain 3.8 per cent. of proof spirit. The samples of wine were analyzed a few 709 days later, and were found to contain 15.6 per cent and 17.5 percent of proof spirit respectively. Proceedings were directed to be instituted early in December, but have been delayed, owing to the indisposition of the analyst concerned in the case.