LICENSING BREACH

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 208, 30 May 1936, Page 21

LICENSING BREACH

Four Men Found in Hotel Bottle Store The presence of four men in the bottle store of the Hotel St. George when the police visited the hotel after 6 p.in. on .May 2, led to prosecutions in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, yesterday? against the licensee, George Bassant, and Alice James, a barmaid. Bassant was charged with selling liquor after hours, exposing it for sale, and opening the hotel after hours for tiic sale of liquor. The barmaid was charged with selling. Defendants were represented by the Hon. W. Perry, and ’pleaded not guilty. Sergeant 1). W. Black said that at 6.13 p.m. on May 2 he visited the Hotel St. George, going through the main entrance to the main bar. which was clear. He then noticed four men in the bottle store adjoining. One was at the counter. In front of him was a 10/- note, and the defendant Janies was in the act of wrapping up a bottle of liquor which site handed to the man, who placed it in his coat pocket. The woman picked up (he 10/note, walked fo the rear of the store and said she had no change. She Im tided the note back and said something to the man, who returned (lie bottle, which she replaced on the shelf. Witness questioned the man, who denied handing anything back, as did also (he woman, bu( when Bassant was called they admitted that the bottle contained liquor and that it had been handed over the counter. Mr. Perry said I hat if (here ever was a. ease which a magistrate was juslfied in dismissing as trivia) this was such a case. Bassant had taken extra precautions that evening as it was the opening of the football season, and until he went to the bottle store lie had not been aware that there were any meii on the premises.

Bassant, in evidence, detailed his efforts punctually to clear the bar. The magistrate. Hr. W. !•'. Stilwell, said

that as regards Hie licensee lie was satisfied it was merely one of those cases which occurred, but he did not feel justified in dismissing it as trivial, Bassant being vicariously liable. A line of £l, costs 10/-. on (he selling charge would, however, meet the ease. The other two charges were withdrawn. The barmaid was fined I’3, costs 10/-. Three of the men found in the bottle .store, Arthur Corbett,. Oliver Bettes, and Hobert Campbell, who did not appear, were each (hied 10/- and costs 10/- for being on licensed premises after hours.