FINES TOTAL £70

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 154, 11 April 1930, Page 6

FINES TOTAL £7O

SLY-GROG CHARGES.

BROTHERS BEFORE THE COURT.

MEN ON PREMISES MULCTED

Ini a police raid on premises in Peter Street recently, a quantity of liquor was seized, and several men were found on the premises. As a result several residents appeared in the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr C. R. Orr Walker, S.M.

James Oliver Stott _ was charged on three counts with having sold liquor m Ashburton when he did not hold a license to do so. , , Gideon Scott was similarly charged on three counts. Douglas Wilkinson:, Cecil Payne, John Gardiner and George H. J. Hughes were charged with having been found on premises where liquor was seized during a_police raid. Hughes was also charged with having purchased liquor while he was prohibited. Mr W. J. Hunter appeared for the two Scotts, and entered a plea of not guilty to all the charges against James Oliver Saott. ...... Senior-Sergeant Martin outlined the police case, and said a man named Payne visited defendant’s house on three occasions, and had purchased liquor. Cecil Payne said that on the morning of March 25 lie wept to Scott’s place, and went in by the back door. There were four or five men there then. J. O. Sbott was there. Witness went there for beer, and he asked Scott for two bottles, for which he paid 3s 6d. This transaction took place near the back door. Later he purchased more beer. He drank a share of the liquor in the house. In the evening he went back, and was there when, the police raided the house. To Air Hunter: He was taken to Scott’s house byi a man named Carr. He had never been there before. He was sober when he went to the house. He had ten or twelve mugs of beer im the afternoon. Constable J. E. R. Myers said he was in the nolice raiding party, arriving about 11.15 p.m. He found the back door locked. It was unlocked by Gideon Scott. In the kitchen he found five men. He searched the house, finding 42 full bottles of beer, 42 empty bottles, two glasses, two mugs, and two bottle top removers. Three partly consumed bottles were on the table., To Mr Hunter: Scott had been away frequently from Ashburton, but he did mot know Scott’s movements. « Mr Hunter said the evidence was doubtful, the only corroboration being the liquor from them. The Magistrate: I can only say tins: there is a 1 case to answer. Mr Hunter said he would withdraw the pleas of not guilty regarding two charges, and plead guilty to one charge. Scott had been away from Ashburton working, arriving back only a few days before the raid. The liauor did not belong to J. O. Scott. The police withdrew two charges, and the Magistrate held over his decision regarding punishment. . * The Magistrate: This is his first offence under the new law. Otherwise he would be liable to six months imprisonment. . . 0 ~ The charges against Gideon Scott were then read, Scott pleading guilty to two charges, the third being withdrawn. . Senior-Sergeant Alar tin said the Scott house was notorious, and he had made the locality a ]folice,patrol, things having become so bad. The Magistrate said that back in 1908 Scott was fined £lO, in 1912 £SO, in 1913 another heavy fine, had been fined £75 on, another occasion, and been thrice sentenced to gaol for three months. For a first offence under the new Act defendant was liable to a fine of £SO or one month in gaol. Defendant was fined £SO and costs 10s on one charge, and was convicted and ordered to pay 10s costs on the other. James Oliver Scott was fined £2O and 10s costs, with 10s witnesses expenses, the Magistrate saving he could not overlook defendant’s previous record. With regard to the men found on the premises, Wilkinson pleaded 1 not guilty. Constable Myers gave evidence regarding finding Wilkinson sitting on a sofa in the kitchen suffering from the aftermath of a considerable ’amount of drink.

Wilkinson said he went to' see James Oliver Scott on some matter of business. He had no liquor, and had been there half am hour. Defendant was fined £2 and 10s costs.

Payne pleaded guilty, and was convicted and discharged. Gardiner pleaded not guilty. Constable Myers said he found Gardiner in the house with a cup before him. There had been liquor in the cup. He showed signs of liquor. Defendant said he 1 went to the house on business, and had been there only a short time when the house was raided. He had no liquor there. He was fined £2 and 10s costs.

Hughes pleaded guilty, and was fined £1 and costs on the charge of being on the premises and was convicted and discharged for a breach of his prohibition order. “I am letting you off lightly with half the fine because you did not commit perjury like the others,” said the Magistrate* to Hughes.