"SQUARE-RIGGERS” ON SUNDAY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 182, 28 April 1921, Page 9

"SQUARE-RIGGERS” ON SUNDAY

SALES TO CONSTABLE TWO MEN HEAVILY FINED Three charges of selling liquor with"out a license were preferred against Robert Donald Murray and Archibald West 'in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr. H. W. Bundle, S.M. Sul>lnspector Willis prosecuted. The sales ! 'of liquor were stated to have been made to Constable P. S. Edwards on Sunday, April 17. The constable, • acting under instructions, went out from Mount Cook Station in plain clothes, and reaching tho corner of Alma Lane and Tory Street, he met two men who were strangers to him, and they had a general conversation. West was then seen in Alma. Lane, and as he neared tho men one of them said to him: “How about a bottle?” and West replied: “Yes.” The constable said: “What about two bottles?” and West agreed to make it two. The constable gave West a marked 10s. note, and then, at the request of West, the three men went to College Street. They were shortly afterwards joined by West, who brought the bottled beer in a- sack. The party drank the contents of one bottle and the constable put the other hottie in his pocket. Thu empty “squarerigger” was taken a wav in the sack by West.

The constable gave evidence in respect to two other purchases of liquor from West later on the same day. On the third occasion witness purchased a bottle of whisky from. West. On the. Sunday evening the police, armed with a warrant, searched Murray’s house at 7 Alma Lane, and found, in addition to a quantity of liquor, two of the marked notes that had been given to West. Constable Condon, who'was in charge of file relief at the Mount Cook Station on the date in question, stated that at Murray's there was found a. quantity of whisky and “square-riggers.” When questioned, Murray stated}, that all the liquor in the house was for his own consumption. When asked what his takings were for the day, Murray produced the two marked notes which had been given to VVest, and some silver. The defendant Murray gave evidence to the effect fthat the liquor in the house was for his- own consumption, and when it was suggested that the quantity was rather large for one man’s Sunday consumption, Murray boastfully replied: “Why. my mate and I could finish that in ten minutes.” Murray eventually pleaded guilty, as did the other defendant. The Magistrate remarked that it was evident that West had .acted as tout for Murray. . Murray was fined <4320, in default three weeks’ imprisonment. West was fined .£lO. with the alternative of 14 days imprisonment. Sydney Arthur, for whom Mr. A. rt. Sievwright appeared, was also charged On two informations with selling liquor without a license on Sunday, April 17. The same constables were, engaged in this case; but the evidence against the defendant was not sufficiently conclusive and the charges were dismissed. The constable who made the purchases of liquor stated that a marked note was given to Arthur, but when the premises were, searched this note was not recovered. ~ . , Arthur and .a friend of his who was in the house when the police made their search stated that no money .was taken from the constable, who was wearing a returned soldiers* badge, lhey alleged that they took pity on the returned soldier and gave him a drink.