"BIG SHOTS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 269, 12 November 1937, Page 8

"BIG SHOTS."

BEHIND SLY GROG. COUNSEL'S ALLEGATIONS. TWO MEN SENT TO GAOL The allegation that "big eliots" were behind Auckland's ely grog shops was made in the Police Court this morning by Mr. W. Noble, who appeared for one of two men sent to prison for Helling liquor without a license. One was sentenced to two months' imprisonment and the other (Mr. Noble's client) to one week wi'th hard labour. A motor driver, John Sydney Corinack, who was fined £40 on November 2 for using premises at 4, Kingston Street, as a common gaming house, appeared to-day and pleaded guilty to four charges of selling liquor without a license. Mr. M. Robinson appeared for accused, who wjw charged on summons. in three of the charges Sub-Inspector Fox prosecuted, Detective-Sergeant P. J. Xaldcr prosecuting in the other. Extensive Business.' Cor mack, said Mr. Fox, took over the premise* in Kingston Street on October 4, paying .£l4, one month's rent in Advance. He told the owners he intended using the premises as a dancing school, but as soon as he took possession ho established the Ixion Club, where liquor was sold and gambling, such as crown and anchor, indulged in. There was some dancing to a gramophone, but the principal business was sly grog and gaming, the people who attended taking part in both. Visiting the place on three occasions a constable noted that there were four men and nine women present on Ortolwr 1 :t, 4ft men and Ift women on October 14, and 35 men and seven women the following night.

"The men ami women drank the beer from glasses and bottles," added Mr. Fox. "When the premise* were raided under Inspector Scott 118 full pint Imttles and 900 empty bottles were seized, so this indicates a fairly extensive business. Most of those present were more or less atfccted by liquor. Cormack explained that the profit* merely paid the way of the business, but we don't agree with that. He is a married man living apart from his wife, and he has been unemployed and on sustenance.

"In Filthy Mess."

"Inspector Scott says this place was one of the worst of its kind lie ha<l ever ricen. IV was in a filthy mess, but apparently it suited the class of patron found there."

Detective-Sergeant Nalder said that when Detective Aplin executed a search warrant he found the place barricaded. Thrae inside broke windows to try and escape, 17 being found on adjoining roof tops. Thirty-five men and seven young women were arrested. Among the men found were several seamen, the others being mostly of a low type. Quite a lot were under the influence of lienor. The premises were kept open practically all night. For Cormack, Mr. Robinson tn.ule an appeal for leniency, pointing out that he had already been fined £40 on another charge in respect of the same premise*. '"He had only a short run in the place, being there but 14 days," said connsel. "This was his first ex]>erJy?nee, and also his la«*t. He now wishes to get back to permanent - work." {,'ormack was. sentenced to one month's imprisonment on fcach of the first three charges, the terms to l»e concurrent, and on the fourth count he was sentenced to ofee month's imprisonment, this term to be served after completion of the other. An order for the forfeiture of the liquor was made. t The "Barmaid" Fined. "This was the woman who whs acting as the barmaid," explained Mr. Fox when the name of Patricia Leckie was called on three charges of aiding and abetting. Defendant did not appear. Mr. Orr Walker, S.M.: I suppose she was tempted, so I won't make the penalty too severe. Leckie was fined £3 on one charge and convicted and discharged on the' other two. Then came James Macandrews, who pleaded guilty to a charge of* selling liquor without a license on October 23. "These were the premises at 3ft, Albert Street," said Sub-Inspector Fox. "Ellis formerly conducted them, but Macandrews took them over after Ellis left. The police have bad numerous complaints about them, and there have been assaults and thefts committed there. When raided by the police nine men and a woman were found, while 47 full bottles of beer and 216 empties were seized. The- beer was sold at 1/ per bottle. Macandrews had not been going longer than'a. week." In Minor Way. Mr. Noble, appearing for accused, said Macandrews had carried on only in a very minor way. "I think that some of what are known in America as 'big shots' are behind these places," said counsel. "Macandrews had been on sustenance, and he took on the job to try and improve himself. There was no disorderly conduct or any gambling, and nobody was found drunk there. Although lie cannot pay a fine, probahly if a fine is imposed it might be punishing some of the people behind it.'

Stating that Jjhe place was not as bad as the one in Kingston Street, the magistrate sentenced Macandrews to one week's imprisonment with hard labour Macandrews, he added, should not have lent himself to the system. The liquor was ordered to be forfeited.