1827 Wine and spirit adulterators unmasked

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defendant Oldfield, yet, the drawing a fictitious permit, in order to account for the disproportionate decrease, which would be occasioned in his Cape mixtures of (his nature before Oldfield went to prison ; Oldfield assisted at these mixtures before he went to prison. Cape Wine was worth about 1*. 6d. per bottle, Sherry 3s. 6d. The following witnesses were called for the defence : William Porter, examined by Mr. Lawes. Was requested by Tooke, to write the request note for Buckby's permit; never saw OldfielA mix wines. The same witness examined by the Attorney-General. He was a clerk, and kept the accounts; never paid Tooke for Almonds and Oyster Shells; did pay him for a bottle of stuff called flavor, which he afterwards heard contained such things; the flavor was put into the Wine. By Mr. Baron Garrow. Recollects Wine being transferred to Mrs. Oldfield, but could not tell how much. He charged Mr. Oldfield with the flavor for which he had paid Tooke; entered in the cash book so much paid for flavor. George Bedell, Samuel Mole, and James Garven, servants of Oldfield, were called, and swore that they never saw any mixing of Wines going on. The Attorney-General replied, and in the course of his observa- tions, said he would not press for the penalties for not returning the permit. The Jury then retired for about a quarter of an hour, and, upon their coming into court again, returned a verdict for the crown, on one permit that of Mr. Buckby's. In this note is contained the whole of the trial, as it appeared in the ' Times,' with the omission of the speeches of the counsel, and the charge of Judge Garrow to the Jury ; likewise an examina- tion-of Tooke, not for the purpose of controverting his statement of facts, but to weaken his evidence by lowering his moral cha- racter. Had the Jury found Oldfield guilty on all the counts, the first and second would have subjected him to a fine of 500/. each ; the third count, consisting of two offences, for not returning the per- mits 100/. each ; and the fourth count, for mixing the Wines, 300/.