INTERESTING LICENSING JUDGMENT

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 111, 7 November 1906, Page 10

INTERESTING LICENSING JUDGMENT

[PBESS .ASSOCIATION/] ' THAMES, 6th November. In connection with proceedings taken against a Thames publican for exposing liquor for sale, a decision of considerable importance was given by the Magistrato, Mr. Bush, to-day. The evidence taken at the hearing showed that several boarders were at a slide of a hotel bar on a Sunday evening, being served with drinks by the licensee's wife. Three other men not boarders, entered the hotel by tho back door, unknown, so the landlord said, to him. One of the men said he had business with ono of the boarders, and the two other men followed him in. . None of tho non-lodgers had drink or asked for any, but one of tho intruders passed the bar slide, and conversed with one of the lodgers. . The licensee's wife said she did not know that any man other thfin lodgers was present. The decision of Mr, Justice Richmond had held that while n. licensee was committing a legal act (serving- drink to lodgers) he could not commit an illegal act by exposing liquor at the same time. Tho Magistrate held that tho amendment of 1904 throw still greater onus on tho licensee, and convicted tho defendant.