ILLEGAL SALE OF LIQUOR

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 138, 7 March 1942, Page 8

ILLEGAL SALE OF LIQUOR

Man And Wife Convicted Evidence that a policeman, dressed in plain clothes and wearing a merchant navy badge, bought beer at a house in Gliuznee Street, Wellington, was given before Mr. Stilwell. S.M., in the Magistrates' Court, yesterday, when John Frederick Harmer and Ivy Ellen Harmer were charged with selling liquor without a licence, and Marjory Tebbett ano William John Sturrock with being on tlie premises*. All pleaded not guilty. Sub-Inspector D. J. M. Hewitt prosecuted, and Mr. G. I. Joseph represented all defendants. Constable N. L. J. Stewart said that at 9.30 on the night of February 5 lie went to the Harmers’ house in Gliuznee Street accompanied by a seaman whom he knew only as George. He purchased some beer there from a man he was sure was Harmer. lie bought four bottles at 2/- each. At 11.30 that night he returned to the house, where he saw Harmer sell beer to another man witness was with. Harmer came to the door in his pyjamas. On February 20 Constable Stewart said lie went again to tlie house in plain clothes, with a merchant navy badge, and asked for a drink. Mrs. Harmer invited him in and offered him beer, for which lie paid 2/- a bottle. Mr. Joseph: Were you entitled to wear the merchant navy badge? Witness: I was acting under instructions.

Witness said he introduced himself to Harmer by saying that he was a seaman off a certain ship. Sergeant J. Martin said that on February 21. with four oilier police officers, he went to the Harmers’ house with a search warrant. In one of the rooms there were six men and a woman, and there were the same number in another room. In both rooms there were empty and full bottles of beer, and glasses. In a search of the house the police found a number of eartons of beer, and several empty hotties. Throughout the search Mrs. Harmer was frank and helpful. Sergeant C. 11. Reardon corroborated Sergeant Martin's evidence. The first witness for the defence, Mrs. Ivy Ellen Harmer, said that when overseas ships came into port members of the crews who knew her husband made the house their home. Sometimes some of the men on coastal ships gave her money to buy beer to Imre ready for them when they reltirned, and sometimes men from the overseas ships brought beer Io the house themselves. She remembered Constable Stewart calling on February 21 with two men. "He said: 'ls Jolinuy home.’” Mrs. Harmer continued. When she told him that her husband was not home. Constable Stewart went on. “My name is Ernie Willetts. I have been on tlie coast here. I've just got off a boat. I've been round all the pubs but can't get a drink. Can 1 get one here?” Frpm file way he spoke, and the way other seamen in the house shook hands with him, she presumed he was a friend of her husband's.

John Frederick Harmer said that lie had never seen Constable Stewart before. He was pleased to make his house a home to any merchant seaman, but he denied that beer had ever been sold there. Other witnesses gave evidence that they had never seen beer sold at the Harmers’, and that Harmer was at a cabaret on the night of February 5. “I haven't any doubt that tile constable's evidence should he accepted,” said the magistrate, convicting all four licensed. He slated that he would fix the penalty on Monday.