A LICENSING CASE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10863, 12 January 1901, Page 3

A LICENSING CASE.

DELAY IN ADMITTING CONSTABLES A FINE INFLICTED. A licensing case 'was heard at the Magistrate's Court ..resterdav, before Mr H. W. Bishop. S.M." ■ ' „ Edward Ri.ve._hiU, licensee of the Caversham Hotel, was charged with having, on December 31st, 1900, failed to admit into that hotel without unnecessary delay a constable, hi the execution of his duty. 'Mr J. B." Fisher appeared on behalf of the defendant. Constable Wootton stated that he visited the hotel at ten minutes to twelve on the 3lst December. The doors were olosed, but there see-med to be a light tn the passage leading from a side door. -He knocked at the door, and after a lapse of two minutes, Mrs RavenhiU came and asked who was there? H. replied, "Police —open the door." There was no reply, and thc door was not opsned till five minutes afterwards. A loud knocking was kept up all tho time. At th© end of the five minutes Mrs P-wven_ull opened the door. Witness then entered, and went into the bar. Mrs -Raven-hill Btated that she did not open the door at first because it was a common practioe for civilians to knock at the door and cry "Police" in order to effect an entrance, the light- wss put out during ths live minutes' wait. The witness was certain of the'length of time he -was kept waiting, for he cheeked it by an open watch. In reply to _\lr Fisher, witness -stated that he found the bar closed w__.il he entered.

Constable -Carmody, who was in company Avith -the'last, witness, on the evening of the 31st, gave similar evkte-i.ee. _u\lr Fisher.contended that the constable* did not "o to the house 411 the execution of their duty. Late on New Year's Eve there had been a great <__tl el knocking at the, door by persons who wanted to gain admittance. The noise made by the constables was such as to lead "Mrs RavenhiU to believe that it was not the police seeking admittance. Louisa RavenhiU, Avife of the licensee, stated that on the evening of December 31st a great knocking was heard at the door. From the time the house closed there was a, large crowd around, and.a great noise going on. There were two lodgers .getting the., supper in the dining, room at th-e time the knocking began. Edward RavenhiU, the licensee, stated that* people were knocking at the door for some time after the house was closed. On such occasions when the door was opened a rush was made. Detective Boddam stated that he was staying at the Caversham Hotel. H« entered the hotel at about 11.30 on the evening of the 51st, and went straight to the dining-room for supper. While having supper he heard a loud knocking at the door, and advised Mrs RavenhiU to go and see who it was. Canstable Wootton, recalled by the Magistrate, stated that he was sent to the hotel by tho Inspector's instructions, and was in unifol-m at the time. Mr Bishop said he saw no re-tson to doubt the correctness of the evidence of the two constables, and that being so thera was an unreasonable delay in admitting them, if he were to accept the excuse of the defendant's counsel it would nullify the section altogether. The defendant wouIH be fined 20s and costs. He would, however, orde» no endorsement of the license.