CASE AGAINST HOTEL BARMAN FAILS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 252, 21 July 1938, Page 7

CASE AGAINST HOTEL BARMAN FAILS

“The Damage Is Done”

REMARK ATTRIBUTED TO LICENSEE’S WIFE

“You may as well finish your drinks; the damage is done.” This remark was stated by Constable S. C. Higgins, in the Magistrates’ Court, Petone, yesterday, to have been made by the wife of the licensee of the New Central Hotel, Petone, to some men whom he found in the bar after hours.

Alfred Little, barman (Mr. F. W. Ongley), was charged that being a person other than the licensee he opened the premises for the sale of liquor' after hours and exposed liquor for sale after hours. Constable Higgins said that Constable L. A. Satherley and he found f&ur men, the licensee’s wife and Little in the bar at 8 p.m. on May 20. He went behind the bar and saw four glasses each partly full. As Constable Satherley and he were leaving Mrs. Fraser passed the remark previously mentioned to the men and produced three glasses, one containing gin. The licensee was in bed. Mr. A. M. Goulding, S.M., said there was no evidence of the drink actually I being served by Little or handed round bv him; nor was there evidence that

Little exposed the liquor for sale or made it available. The charges against him would be dismissed. Four men were charged with being on the hotel promises after hours. One said he was a personal friend of Fraser and came with another man to visit him as he was ill. He saw Mrs. Fraser in the bar as he went into the hotel and went in to speak' to her. The magistrate, fining each man £l, with costs; said there seemed no reason for the men to have gone into the bar. There was also the evidence of the statement made by the licensee’s wife that “the damage is done.”