AN EXPENSIVE TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 183, 2 August 1913, Page 5

AN EXPENSIVE TRADE.

r SLY-GROG ON SUNDAY MORNING. FINE OF .'£2o AND COSTS. The charge of sly grog-selling laid as the result of a itaid made on No. 37, Wyndham Street, -ivas again called on at the Police Court this morning before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M. Inspector McGratl** appeared for the police. Michael Gorsted, a thick-set man of about thirty, was charaged with selling liquor without a license. There was also a charge against a woman named Mamie Schmidt of bein_the occupier of the premises, and being privy to the sale. Mr. Lundon, who appeared for the woman, produced medical proof that she was too ill to attend the Court. The hearing was therefore adjourned until Tuesday next. The case against Gorsted. who defended himself, was gone on with. The police evjdence was to the effect that on Sunday forenoon, July 20, Constable. Green, in the garb of a sailor, gained admittance to.No. 37 with a friend and purchased some whisky. A signal was given to Sergeant Murray and two | constables who were in waiting outside, j and the place was raided. There were a I number of men inside, and a miscellaneous collection of beer, whisky, and other bottles and jars was retrieved. Several witnesses were called for the defence. They said they were boarders at No. 37. some of them having been-then-a fortnight before the raid and some of them having gone there only a few days previous. They accounted for part of the large and assorted collection of liquor receptacles by stating that it had been purchased for the "boarders" or the "boys." One man said he bought two bottles of whisky, though he could not account for the fact that one of them had been found under the mattress of the proprietress' bed. He had bought them ''for the boys." An old man who also described himself as a boarder, said! be was one of four inmates-who had each put in half-a-crown to purchase the demijohns of beer. Some of the witnesses said most of the men on the premises that Sunday morning were permanent hoarders. They could not say why. if that were the case, many of tho men had given the police other addresses when their names were taken. His Worship said the raid appeared to | have been well-thought-out and well ; executed. There was not the slightest I doubt in his mind that the accused sup- ] plied liquor to the constable on the Sttnl day morning. The accused appeared to j have fallen into the trap that was laid i for him. and the attempts to extricate, himself from the unfortunate position were very weak. ' Inspector McGrath said nothing was known about the accused beyond the present charge. His Worship said that in view of the fact that Gorsted was a first-offender the maximum penalty would not be inflicted. His Worship imposed-a fine of £20 and costs.