A Chapei Product: Spirits of Wine and Creek Water Among the many brands of whisky on the Shanghai market, one mentioned at the Mixed Court on Tuesday stands alone. At least, it to be hoped so Otherwise, let the temperance party get busy at once.
A hawker was charged with selling "whisky" without a licence, and the police evidence was that the delinquent was found loitering outside the Astor Bar offering a couple of bottles for sale, at 50 cents each. When approached by a police constable, he admitted that the "whisky" was his own manufacture, though the bottle bore the label of a well-known imported brand. The hawker confessed that his own special Scotch was composed of spirits of wine, some colouring matter, a little genuine whisky "to cause a flavouring," and hot water, the whole being honoured with the aforementioned label, and (so the police said) the British Government "coat of arms." All this for 50 cents, and made in Chapei!
It was pointed out tothe Court that by turning the bottle upside down a nice layer of dirt could be detected. suggesting that the mixture had been filled up with water from a creek.
The Court sent the "whisky" to the Municipal Laboratory for analysis, and remanded the accused in custody.
This is not the first case of its kind, but it is questionable whether a more wretched and dangerous swindle has ever come to the' notice of the police. Now that the attention of the Public Analyst has been drawn to the matter, it might be advisable to make further inquiry ies. A few samples taken here and there might afford interesting. data.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.