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118
"Mr. Percy Robinson, who defended, cross-examined the
witnesses with the view of showing that condensed milk was
used for pigs' food, and that the defendant was accustomed to
selling it for that purpose. The learned gentleman elicited that
numerous samples of food had been taken at the defendant's
shop, but that there had been no complaint against him.
"Addressing the Court for the defence, Mr. Robinson said
the question here was not whether this food was fit for human
consumption. It obviously was not, and it was not intended
for that purpose. It was not suggested by the prosecution that
the food was exposed for sale. The defendant bought up
bankrupt stocks. When such purchases were made it was not
possible to examine the goods closely and they had to be gone
through afterwards. He thought the court would come to the
conclusion that the food was deposited, not for the purposes of
sale, but for the purpose of being sorted out. It was no more
an offence for the defendant to have bad food in his cellar than
for his worship's cook to have in the larder some fish which
might have gone wrong.
"The defendant was called and said none of the goods
seized was intended for human food.
"The defendant was under examination when the further
bearing was adjourned
At the adjourned hearing Mr. Hopkins (the Magistrate)
ordered the defendant to pay a penalty of £50 and £5 5s. costs.