ALLEGED SLY-GROG SELLING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 101, 29 April 1910, Page 2

ALLEGED SLY-GROG SELLING.

_ A middle-aged man- named W_l Dalziek who is the occupier of certain premises in Albert-strete, was charged at the Police Court to-day that on Sunday, the 10th inst., he had sold beer and whisky to Thomas Stanley and George Summers.

The case for the prosecution, which was conducted by Sub-Inspector Hendrey, was that the witnesses in support of the charge lived next door to Dalziel, who, for some time, had been suspected if the illicit disposal of liquor. The evidence of these men went to show that on. this Sunday morning they went into Dalziel's place, and were supplied with a '"rigger" of beer—that is, a "square-gin bottle" of colonial beer. Dalziel charged them 2/6 for it. The same quantity and no doubt the same quality of ale is sold— on week days—in public houses for 64! They also procured a bottle of whisky, which purported to be of the well-fcnoma "House of Commons" brand, hut although the subinspector fancied it was methylated spirits, one expert swore it was whisky, all right, but was diluted to the extent of 100 per cent witb water, and apparently a dirty cork had been placed in' the bottle. This precious mixture wa3 sold by Dalziel for 10/. The hotel price for the genuine article is just half that sum! When the police came along they found a sack full of empty bottles on the premises, and also a few others which were by no means empty.

Dalzied was undefended by counsel, but he made a rambling statement to the effect that he had sold nothing to Stanley or Summers, and that whatever liquor was found in his place had been purchased for his private consumption. But in the course of bis remarks he said: "D'ye think a man can never learn a lesson ? Why. Fve been convicted twice before, and the last time I got six months, and I swore I'd never do it again, and I never done it! These two mc are only committing perjury." The Magistrate pointed cut that an informality had apparently crept into the information, which complicated the position somewhat. The case was re mauded until Friday in order that his Worship might have an opportunity of looking into the legal questions involved.

In the cases of Archie Bobbins, accused of assisting Dalziel in this nefarious dealing, and John Peter Evans, who pleaded gitiltry to having been on Dalziel'a premises, a remand until the same day was granted. An information "had been laid ajrunst Harry Evans, charging him with being on the premises also, was withdrawn, as the stib-inspector informed the Court that the defendant was in the hospital seriously ill.