SLY GROG CHARGES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8850, 29 May 1914, Page 4

SLY GROG CHARGES.

THE CASE ADJOURNED

At the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr V. G. Day, S.M., Thomas Henry Alexander and Anmo Alexander (his wife) were charged with, on or about May 9, selling liquor, with keeping liquor for sale, and with ordering liquor without givmg a statement to the effect that the liquor was to be introduced in a No-license district. All the,charges were taken together. Mr Buchanan represented accused. John Clark, a labourer, residkng in Ashburton,. said .that he remembered the morning of May 14. On that day the morning of May 14. On that day, about 10.30 or 11 o'clock in the morni ing he went to Alexander's house. He [went in'at the/front of the house and through to the back. He had only seen .Mrs Alexander there. Witness asked for some liquor, and Mrs Alexander said that she had some. Witness asked for one shillirfg'a, worth, which was given him. Ho produced a flask, which Mrs Alexander filled: The flask (produced) was similar to the one he had had; Constable Turner had since taken it from him. (Witness .here tasted the liquor in the flask and prbnouhcedit to be whisky.) Witness, continuing, stated that he was called back to Alexander's door. Ho knew the Alexanders well.

By Mr Buchanan: He was on a slight drinking bout at the time mentioned. Ho had boon at- Chertsey the morning before he went to Alexander's, and had brought home half a bottl« of whisky, which ho finished by next niorning. He was not drunk the next morning. He had drunk half a bottle of whisky on the train coming from Chertsoy. Witness had never got whisky from .any other place in Hampstead.

James AY. Halliday, hotelkeeper .at Chertsey, said that-on May 9 he received an order for liquor signed " J. Dickson." In response, he had sent six bottles of" . whisky to Ashburton, addressed to J. Dickson. He had previously, sent sis orders for whisky to Ashburton ordered by J. Dickson. On January 12 he sent four bottles, on March -2 four bottles, on April 6 four bottles, on April 18 four bottles, and on May 9 six bottles. He had no record of having sent four bottles of whisky to Dickson., on February 6. There was jjo doubt that.six bottles of whisky had been sent on May 9. Alexander had riot ordered any liquor from Ghertsey in} his" own name recently. He had supplied Ainrie, Alexander with liquor during the past four month's. On April 28 Mrs Alexander had got four bottles of whisky, arid similar quantities on March 24 and on February 23. He had also., forwarded liquor to J. Dickson on February 6. To the Bench: The orders, accompanied by Uvj money, had been received by post. Henry P. Mclvor, an officer at tho railway .station, /said that he remembered a parcel of liquor coming to Ashburton on May 9 addressed ta J. Dickson. It was signed for by R: Gowles (a carrier). The liquor had come from Chertsoy ta" about 7.30 p.m. Other parcels addressed to J. Dickson ha dsilso come through. On January 13 mid February 7 Cowlos had signed for liquor addressed to J. Dickson. and W. Lindsay signed j'or it o'.s March 2. On April 6 i\ .T. ihikev had signed for a parcel of liquor, and J". Dickson had signed for liquor mr. Api;il 20 'and on April 21. "Witness recognised Alexander as tltc man who signed the book as J. Dickson. Alexander received two parrels oi' liquor by signing for J. Dickson. Witness gave some written orders to Coin&able Turner which ho hsid roeeivfd from people signing for the liqunr for J. Dickson. ■ Witness had no doubt Alexander signed Dickson's name.

Charles Wonnacott, a licensed carrier, stated that heJiad received a piece of paper from Alexander on May 9 on the railway station. It had seemed to contain coins? The coins seemed about the size of shillings or sovereigns. .Wit-, .ness .handed the paper to Mr Cowles. Richard, J. . Cowles, a licensed carrier, stated that he had received a note from Wonnacott on May 9. The note produced was similar to the one witness had received, and had two single shillings in it. ]t was an order empowering witness to sign for liquor, and he took the liquor to Alexander's hoiise. Thau was after the 8 o'clock train came in. He gave the liquor to Mrs Alexander. Witness had delivered several parcels to Alexander's addressed' to ,]. Diokfion.

"William Lindsay, licensed carrier, residing at Ashburtou, gave" evidence. He said ho bad thken a man purport-1 ing -to bo J. Diokson down as far as the belt .it the Walcanui Road. Dickson gave him an order to get a parcel of liquor. He could not say why Dickson had not signed for the liquor himself, i Dicksdn had accompanied witness- to : the Kelt, and had then taken the 1 parrel. P. J. Baker, a licensed cirruv, also gaie c\ idence. ConsLable E. T. C. Turner stated that at 10.40 a.m. on the date in question, he, with another constable and Sergeant Emerson, raided Alexander's house. He saw John Clark coming away from the hoitse, and after searching him, had found a small flask of whisky in his pockets, dark admitted to Sergeant Emerson that he had obtained the liquor ay Alexander's, but Mrs Alexander denied that Clark haci got the liquor there. Witness searched for liquor, but found.none. He found a glass and an empty bottle smelling 'strongly of whisky. "Alexander denied having got any liquor on May 11. By Mr Buchanan: • /Witness saw Clark conaing out of Alexander's gate. The whisky glass found had been ,con-: oealed. The room did not appear as though ib was; being swept when the police called. ■,■.-,'.

Sergeant. Emerson gave similar evidence, lie saw the female defendant hurriedly putting something away. Mr# Alexander said that they had no'liquor in the house, and Alexander denied having .received parcels of liqnor addressed to J. jDielcßon.

Isy Mr Buchanan: Gark had been before the Court a -good deal for drunkeuiu^s,. but was perfectly sober on the morning in questioH. , Mr. Buchanan said that it, would be necessary for him to get tho witness l)iekson before he could go on with the case; : Dickspn had come to his (Mr Buchanan's) office and made a statement, and he had understood that he .^stmld have attended the Court tnat morning.

Bx; Worship adjourned tli© case for a fortnight.