MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2551, 27 August 1915, Page 11

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

« THE TAITA HOTEL LICENSEE CONVICTED ON TWO CHARGES The case of the Taita. Hotel, which was partially heard at Lower Hutt recently, was concluded before Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. The charges against the licensee (William Moore) were:—(l) Keeping tho bar of his hotel open on Sunday, May 30, and selling liquor; (2) on Juno 10, keeping his hotel open during prohibited hours. The latter charge had been partially heard. Inspector Hendrey appeared for the police and-Mr. J. J. M'Grath for defendant. After hearing concluding evidence in respect to tho second' charge the Magistrate at Mr. M'Gra-th's request reserved his decision until later in the day. Tho first case was proceeded with, Constable Holmes giving evidence that iie. with Constable Johnson, visited'the hotel on the Sunday just before noon. They found the front door open and on entering discovered three soldiers in tho dining room. The slido to the bar was open and two of tho troopers wero in.., the act of placing their ompty glasses on the counter to the slido. There was a£l note on the slide. Witness said: "What docs this mean?" The wife of tho licensee, who was present, hung her head and said nothing. Later she said she did not know, that she was doing anything unlawful;! Constable Johnson gave corroborative evidence. In entering a plea of guilty to a technical breach of the Licensing Act Mr. M'Grath said that the licensee's wife was entirely innocent of any breach of the_ Act in serving tlie soldiers with drink. Tlie three soldiers, one'of whom was an old school-nrate of Mrs. Moore's, had como down to the hotel from Trentham, with the intention of staying for dinner and tea. During the morning the soldiers had asked for a drink and quite openly and innocently Mrs. Moore had served them.' Later in the day the Magistrate delivered his decision in respect to both charges. He said he must convict in both cases. . In mitigation of the penalty Mr. M'Grath said defendant was man of good character and had been hotelJceeping for 16 or 17 years. The Magistrate imposed a fino of £3 with costs 95., in each case. Security for leave to appeal was fixed at £8 Bs. ALLEGED SAFE DYNAMITING. _ The two young men, Robert and William James Stockbridge, who are alleged to _ be responsible for the recent dynamiting of a safe at Miramar, appeared before Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., charged with breaking and entering the countinghouse of the Miramar Borough Council and stealing therefrom £29 lis. lid. On tho application of Chief Detective Bodtlam both accused were Tcmanded to September 2. Other charges were stated to be pending against the two accused. Bail was allowed in £100.