"RELIEF" RAIDERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 178, 29 July 1932, Page 8

"RELIEF" RAIDERS.

I INGENUITY OF POLICE. SLY GROG SALES. COMMENT BY COUNSEL. "HISTRIONIC ABILITY." Charges of failing to .make a statement before taking liquor into the no-license district of Eden, keeping liquor for sale without a license, and selling six bottles of beer to Constable Smith, were brought against William Hesketh, fruiterer, of , 473, Dominion Road, at the Police Court ; this morning, before Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M. The charge of keeping liquor for sale was withdrawn by the police, defendant pleading guilty to the other two informations. Detective Sergeant Kelly said that as the result of complaints being received by the police that Hesketh was conducting a sly grog shop in Dominion Road, a : constable went to his fruit shop on June 16 and purchased two bottles of beer, "home brew," at sixpence per bottle. He bought six more bottles? to take away. They were handed to tiie Government analyst, and an analysis made showed jthe percentage of proof spirit to be 11.80, which was 3 J per cent greater than liquor sold in hotels. A search warrant was executed at the shop by Sergeant Turner on June 18, when 12 bottles of home brew and 34 bottles of ordinary ale, as -well as-many empty bottles, were found. 'Inquiries showed that from December 4 last to June 17 Hesketh had received 36J dozen bottles of beer and stout and four bottles of wine from one firm, and from ; another, between December 12 and June 4, 26 dozen of stout and. five bottles or whisky. ...,■■ . . "Hesketh ,did his. own carrying, < and when he received the liquor from one firm i he gave his address'as the City Markets, so that the liquor firm was unaware that the liquor was going into a no-license \ area," added Mr. Kelly. "At the time of the raid a man was found on the premises having a glass of whisky. He said he was cold and had'just come from a funeral. He is to be charged later." No Substantial Sales. Counsel said Hesketh was a fruiterer and a perfectly respectable man. Notwithstanding the somewhat formidable array of empty bottles foun'd by the police, there had been no substantial eales going on. "The , success-of the raid reflects credit on the police for their histrionic ability and also for their ingenuity," continued counsel. "They came to the raid at the shop as relief •workers, fresh from an adjacent swamp." (Laughter.) "They even pointed to the stains on their clothing, and told 'hard luck' stories-before they were supplied with beer; Further, the police tried their best to get Hesketh to get in a stock of liquor for the coming Satur-. day—the day upon which the raid : was made. But,' to my client's , credit, he refused. Beyond this I can offer little in extenuation. The quantity' of liquor found was of no consequence." On the first charge, Hesketh was fined £2 and costs, and for selling liquor without a license he was fined £25. He was allowed one month in which to pay. A Charge Adjourned. Alfred Hall Skelton was then charged,; on summons, with being found on the> . unlicensed 7 premises of Hesketh's' shop' *fof .the-purpose of, dealing in liquor. Counsel fcaid ' defendant was at present out of town," and secured an adjournment r until"'August '5.