ANTI-" SHOUTING"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3053, 14 April 1917, Page 14

ANTI-" SHOUTING"

CITY CASES IN COURT HOTEL EMPLOYEES CONVICTED. On Saturday, March 10, Constables Hedgeman and Goulding, acting under instructions, visited several city hotels with a view of ascertaining whether the anti-"shouting" regulations were being observed. The two constables 'disguised themselves as motorists; arid with funds for their purpose set out. As a result of their investigation's several charges of a broach of the anti-"shouting" law were heard by Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M., yesterday. George Boseley, a barman employed at the Te Are Hotel, was charged with having knowingly sold intoxicating liquor to Frank Hedgeman with the intention that it be consumed by F. M Goulding. ' ' Inspector Marsack prosecuted, and Mr. J. Young represented det'ondaxit. After hearing the evidence of the two constables, Mr. Young stated that the sale was a pure accident. The defendant was a casual employee, and served in the bar on Saturday nights. The defendant had been warned" by the licensee frequently to be careful as regards the anti-"shouting" regulations, and did not knowingly allow ' shouting."

The Magistrate recorded a conviction. vSentence was deferred until Monday, when the hearing of other similar cases will have concluded. A charge against Percy Rogers, licensee of tlte Te Aro Hotel, of permitting "shouting" on his premises was dismissed. Barmaid Convicted. Doris Carter, a barmaid in the employ of the licensee of the Grand Hotel, was charged with, permitting "shouting." Mr. W..L. Bothcnberg appeared tor defendant. Constable Hedgeman stated that he and' Constable. tioulding, in company with a soldier, went into the Grand Hotel bar and were served with* a round of drinks by defendant, for which each of them paid. They then had another round of drinks, for which witness paid. He asked for change for a pound note, and got a 10s. note and silver, and in paying for the, drinks he immediately tendered the 10s. note. After this incident witness and Constable Goulding wont across'the street'and wrote up their notes.

A conviction was recorded, and sentence was deferred.

A charge against Ernest Page, licensee of the Grand Hotel, was dismissed. Another Barman Charged. Reginald Davis, barman of the Albion Hotel, for whom Mr. J. J. M'Grath appeared, -was also charged. L. H. Herdman, licensee of the- Albion Hotel, stated that when lie took over tho hotel in tfobniary he was warned that his employees might inadvertently break tho anti-"shouting" regulations, and to protect himsolf he sent a type-written notice to each employee covering a warning to bo carelul to observo the war regulations. Reginald Davis said that he did not remember tho men when lie was first approached, but he since remomffered them. He was working two bars at the time, and was extremely busy. When tho constables, had their drinks he remarked : "You men are paying for your own drinks." It was not an uncommon thing for two men to come to the bar and one to' tender a sixpence and the othor a shilling, and for tho latter to pick up the sixpence as change, and pass the shilling along. . Davis was convicted and sentence reserved until Monday. _

The caso, against the licensee was dismissed. •. "' •

Katie M'Enroe, 1 barmaid at the Britannia Hotel, was similarly charged, and Mrs. M'Enroe,' licensee of tho hotel, was charged with permitting "shouting" on tho premises. Mr. J. J. M'Gratn appeared for both defendants, and.the cases were taken togother... The evidence of the. two constables was nnicb on the same lines as. in the previous cases.

Katie M'Enroe, in giving evidence-, stated that at the time the constables olaimcd to havo boon served with, liquor she was extremely busy. There •was a great number of men at the bar, and witness and the other barmaid •wore kepo hard at work. Sho could not remember serving the constables, but she would not deny their statement. If sho took a shilling, as alleged, then it was done inadvertently and accidentally. She made it a rale to see that every customer paid for his own drink. She had no recollection of the incident. Mrs. M'Enroe also gave evidence. , Katie M'Enroe was convicted, and sentence was deferred as in the other cases, while the charge against the licensee was dismissed.