HASTINGS “COLD-TEA” CASE’

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 259, 2 August 1928, Page 16

HASTINGS “COLD-TEA” CASE’

/A LONG-DELAYED DECISION. By Telegraph.—l’ress Association. 'Hastings, August 'l. The nine-mouths-old "cold tea 1 ' case was brought to a conclusion to-day when charges against Donald Hugh McLeod, licensee of the Hastings Hotel, for selling after'hours, selling liquor to Athol Griftiths, and selling liquor to a person already intoxicated were dismissed. • Attiol Griffiths,. charged with being found on. licensed premises during prohibited hours was lined £2 and costs £3 18s.' (Id. It will be remembered that certain bottles submitted as evidence at the earlier hearing were alleged to contain cold tea and not beer as believed, and the case was adjourned pending an analyses-of the contents. To-day the analyst’s report showed that the contents were not alcoholic and the charges against McLeod were dismissed. Athol Griffiths admitted substituting the liquids. His Worship said the positon of Griffifths was different. He was charged with being found on licensed premises and the onus was on him to’satisfy the Court that, he had a legitimate excuse. Griffiths said he went to see McLeod about- a racehorse which he (the Magistrate) was not going to accept. He had no rightful excuse: it was made up on the spur of the moment. There was a great deal more in tins case than met the eye and be had no hesitation in convicting Griffiths.