A LIQUOR CASE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 87, 23 January 1942, Page 4

A LIQUOR CASE

ALLEGATION OF A SALE. CONSUMPTION ON PREMISES. EVIDENCE FOR THE POLICE. Appearing in the Magistrate’s Court in Army uniform this afternoon, '.Jim Weir was charged with haying sold two bottles of ale without a licence on October 25. 1911, ho having been six times previously convicted in the last five years. Defendant who was represented by Mr V. W . Russell, elected to be tried by jury. Senior-Sergeant J. F. Cleary, who prosecuted, stated that AVeir was an agent for a hotel He sold two bottles of ale at Is 9d each. He did not have a licence to sell the liquor nor did he have an order for the ale which was consumed on the premises. Keith Poultney, -of Temuka, working as a mill-hand at Methven, said that lie visited defendant’s shop at Ashburton in company with two friends, Martin Hickey and Fred Rea. Hickey asked witness if he wanted “a beer.” They entered by the front door. Hickey purchased a bottle of ale from AVeir, some money passing for the ale, but witness could not say how much. The ale was consumed in a room at the back of the premises. There were nine or 10 other men on the premises, and they were also drinking ale from bottles. Witness gave Hickey a tenshilling note to purchase another bottle. Hickey left the room and returned witlv a bottle and the change. Rea. then ordered the next bottle, which was obtained from the shop in the same way, and. was consumed. He did not see Hickey sigi% a book as they entered the shop, and it w'ould have been impossible for him to have done so without witness seeing him. Witness did not give AVeir any order for liquor. ' Frederick'George Rea, aged 16 years, a mill-hand, of Methven, said that when lie and his companion went into AVeir’s shop several men- were there drinking and talking. He corroborated Poultney’s evidence about the purchase of the beer. He added that he did uot see Hickey sign a hook, but witness' might not have been looking if he did. AVitness did not sign a hook.

(Proceeding.)