SLY GROG SELLING.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13375, 17 March 1909, Page 4

SLY GROG SELLING.

HEAVY PUNISHMENT INFLICTED BY THE MAGISTRATE.

Some sordid evidence was given in a case of sly grog selling heard before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., yesterday morning, when Ella Re_an, a coloured woman (with three or four previous convictions of a similar nature against her), and Frederick Anderson were charged with selling liquor without a license.

Both accused were represented by Mr Leathern, and Sub-Inspector McGrath prosecuted. Lawrence McGill stated that he called at 144 Salisbury street, the house occupied by accused, on March 10th, accompanied by a young man named Hayes. The woman Regan admitted them, and they went into the kitchen. Hayes and the woman left the room. and while they were away Anderson produced some beer, and witness and he had a drink, for which he (witness) paid Is. Presently the female accused and Hayes returned, and they had another round of drinks. AVitness enquired -ow much was wanted for them, and the woman said "Half a dollar.'' Witness thereupon paid a further half a crown. When witness and Hayes left, Anderson told them to call back next morning, which they did. When they arrived thero at 9.10 o'clock. Anderson was in bed and witness and Hayes went into the kitchen. A little later Anderson put in an appearance, and remarked that ho was "dry." Beer and champagne cider were produced and partaken of. and another half-crown changed hands. To Mr Leathern: They had called the previous Saturday night, but had not been admitted. On Monday night they had been admitted, hut no liquor had been produced, as the female accused was suspicious. Witness had given evidence in the bay rum case recently heard. Constable Scott had told him where to go, and stated that if a conviction were obtained, witness and Hayes would receive something from the Government. Thos. Patrick Hayes gave evidence of a similar nature. To Mr Leathern: Tlie first time the witness and McGill called the woman stated she thought she had seen them with the police- McGill had given him three half-crowns on two of the occasions. Witne.-s had, during two of the visits, had immoral relations with the female accused, with a view to allaying suspicion. To Sub-Insnector McGrath : .Neither the police nor McGill had suggested immorality. The police had only toid them to endeavour to obtain drinks.

Constable Scott said that, in company with Sub-Inspector McGrath and Sergeant Burrowes, he had entered the house on March 11th with a ocarch warrant. They were mot at tiio door by Regan, who admitted that she kept liquor. Inside tho back door, behind a tray, the police found 7 or 8 large bottles* of beer, in the kitchen a 3-gallon keg, and in an outhouse behind a box, 8 bottles of beer. In a cupboard in tho front room they found 2- bottles of whisky and one bottle of brandy, and 14 bottles of champagne cider (produced in Court). Anderson said he occupied the house, and Regan was. his housekeeper. On Monday ni_ht witness and Sergeant Burrowes again searched the house, but found no liquor. Accused however, admitted getting a keg anil some bottles of beer on Friday, which they stated they had got through on Sunday. Anderson was under the influence of drink, and was most abusive and insulting. Regan admitted having been convicted of sly-grog selling in Dunedin and Christchurch. To Mr Leathern: Witness had supplied McGill with money—on one occasion with 10s, and on another with 9s. Witness told McGill and Hayes he suspected the house was a sly-grog shop, and told them to try to get liquor. McGill came to tho station two or three weeks ago, looking for a "sly-grog job." Evidence was also given regarding supplies of liquor delivered to the accused.

For the defence, Ella Regan sitatcd that when McGill and Hayes had called on Wednesday there was beer on the table. They had 'had drinks on the Wednesday and Thursday, but from first to last no money had been paid her for it. Witness had suspected they were "pimps" from the first, as she had seen them taiking to the police. She had told them this, and ono of them had replied: "Men who are 'pimps' ought to be swung up." To Sub-Inspector McGrath : Witness admitted everything but the statement that she had received payment for the liquor. Mr Leathern said he would not call Anderson.

The Magistrate : '"Tihe fewer words I use the better, for the case is a most disgusting one to every decent person. I am, going to break up what I consider a black spot of the city. The female defendant will be sentenced to six months' hard labour, and the man will he fined £50." In regard to the characters of the witnesses and the methods adopted by them, his Worship said he could not speak of that aspect of the matter at all. It seemed that it was no doubt necessary for the police to sometimes employ men of this class, and they must therefore be regarded as a necessary evil in cases of this sort. A POLICE EXPLANATION. Sub-Inspector .McGrath, . after the case had been heard, told a "Press" reporter that the police knew nothing of the tactics adopted by the witnesses, and would not have "countenanced their action had they known of it.