DOORS BARRED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 154, 1 July 1940, Page 9

DOORS BARRED.

POLICE RAID CLUB.

£30 FINES ARE IMPOSED.

SLY-GROG SELLING CHARGES

"The police have had no end of trouble and complaints about this place. It - was barred both back and front, and when we went along on Friday night we took a crowbar to ensure getting in if there was no other way," said Senior Sergeant Joyce in the Police Court this morning, when each of three men pleaded guilty to two charges of sly-grog selling on 'June 27 and 28. The accused were Martin Harvey Nicholson, Treanor Hartley and Dick Llewellyn Claridge, who were represented by Mr. Hall Skelton.

The police evidence was that on Friday night Senior Sergeant Joyce and Sergeants Southworth and Brown had gone to the New Century flub, 63A, Randolph Street. They had been admitted by Nicholson, and inside there were 33 people, men and .women, 16 of whom were drinking at the bar. Nicholson admitted he was the manager and to Senior Sergeant Joyce said he wae the occupier. In a safe which the police opened the following day were found 13 dozen bottles of beer, six and a half bottles of gin, five and a half bottles of whisky, and a half-bottle of wine.

Mr. Skelton said the three accused had only been connected with the club a fortnight. "I have appeared for many sly-grog sellers at different times and "l have never known any of them to make any money. It is a foolish bueinese," added counsel.

Each of the defendants wae fined £30 on one charge and convicted and diecharged on the other. Claridge, who also pleaded guilty to giving a false name and address to the police, was fined £1 on that charge.