POLICEMEN CALLED FOR DEFENCE

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29872, 12 July 1962, Page 12

POLICEMEN CALLED FOR DEFENCE

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, July 11

Two policemen were called for the defence in a police prosecution in the Auckland Magistrate’s Court today. They appeared before Mr R. M. Grant, S.M., under subpoena for Trevor David Smith, a barman, who was charged with two offences of selling liquor when not licensed to do so in that he assisted Archibald Lowrie in that offence.

Smith, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted on both charges and fined £lO on each.

Peter Bernard O’Boyle, a police constable in the special duties branch, said he went to premises known as the Napoli Club, Cook street, where he bought 13 liquor tickets for 15s. He went to a bar where Smith gave him beer in exchange for two tickets. Other people, he said, also bought beer from Smith. O’Boyle said he bought tickets from Smith at the club on a second night. For the defence. James William Tootell, a detective-ser-geant, said he and two other policemen had been with Smith in an office on the premises on the second night from 10.15 p.m. until midnight on another matter. He had not seen Smith selling tickets. People had come into the room from time to time to speak to Smith. Richard John Squires, a detective, gave similar evidence. Archibald Lowrie, a salesman, said Smith had not helped him run the club. In evidence Smith denied selling the tickets. Mr Grant said he was satisfied that Smith had acted as a barman at the club. The evidence of the two policemen indicated that Smith could have sold tickets without their knowledge.