SEQUEL TO A RAID. ALLEGED SLY GROG-SELLING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 145, 21 June 1909, Page 8

SEQUEL TO A RAID. ALLEGED SLY GROG-SELLING.

LIQUOR IN A BOARDINGIIOUSE. In the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., Mary Ann Wright (known as Mary Jane Barrie) and David Barrie appeared as defendants in a case arising out of a raid upon a Taranaki-place boardinghouse, in which sly-grog is alleged to have been sold. The charge against the former accused was that on the 15th May she unlawfully sold liquor to James Wykes, without having a license to do so. David Barrie was charged with (1) being the occupier of The Paragon Boardinghouse, was privy to the sale of liquor on the 15th May ; and with (2) being found on the 29th May on unlicensed promises, to wit The Paragon Boardinghouse, when liquor was seized, was deemed to have been on such premises for the purpose of illegally dealing in liquor. The case against the female defendant was taken first. Station-Sergeant Darby prosecuted, and Mr. A. L. Herdman defended. James Wykes, stage carpenter, stated that he had visited The Paragon Boarding house on several occasions. He visit ed there on the 15th May with a Mr. Slattery, about 11.15 o'clock at night. V.'itness paid defendant a debt of 6s for drink. On the 15th May witness bought eight bottles of beer, for which he paid 16s. The liquor was procured from within the house. Witness left the premises at 3.15 o'clock on ;he subsequent Sunday morning. To Mr. Herdman : Witness had slept there, and also had his meals there on occasions. He did not pay the 6s for lodging. •' Albert Slattery, carpenter, corroborated the previous witness's evidence. He also slated that defendant "shouted" three bottles of beer. : Louise Kitts said that she was in the employ of defendant on the 15th May. She stated that defendant supplied about a dozen bottles of beer to the previous witnesses. Witness obtained the beer for Wykes and Slattery from Mr. Barrie, who was in another room. It was a nightly occurrence to supply liquor, and other customers from the Operd House were supplied. To Mr. Herdman : Witness gave information to the police. Wykes and Slattery were not under the influence of drink when they arrived on the premises. Percy, clerk in tho employ of Fanning and Co., stated that The Paragon Boardinghouse was leased *Lo D. and M. Barrie. Mr. Hodgins, Palmerston North, owned the property. Sub-Inspector Phair gave evidence that he, with several constables, searched The Paragon Boardinghouse Witness seized eighty-eight bottles of liquor, consisting of beer, whisky, and gin, nearly all of which was seized from defendant's bedroom. In another room a man was' in bed with six empty beer bottles on the floor alongside hiir,. and another partly consumed. Witness remarked, "You appear to be having a good time," and the reply was, "I always do have a good time." CASE FOR THE DEFENCE. Mr. Herdman intimated that the defence would be that no liquor was sold. Mary Jane Barrie, defendant, &aid that her correct name was Wright. She remembered seeing Wykes and Slattery on the premises on the 15th May. They were under the influence of liquor when witness first saw them on the premises; 'they were drinking beer along with Miss Kitts. She did not know where they got the liquor. Witness did not receive 16s from Wykes, but ho paid her 6s for lodging. Of the liquor seized, witness procured' two gallons of whisky at Easter time, and also some of the beer. Some of the beer belonged to a man named Dew. The liquor was in the house for "shouting" purposes, and also for Mr. Barrie. To Station-Sergeant Darby: Mr. Barrie had no snare in the boardinghouse. He was the cook. Witness denied supplying Wykes or Slattery with beer. There was beer kept in the room from which Miss Kitts said she had obtained some bottles of liquor. Witness had been convicted and discharged for being on premises where liquor had been sold. David Barrie, a cook, stated that he did not see Wykes or Slattery on the premises on 15th May. He was in bed. Miss Kitts did not come to his bedroom and get beer from him. The liquor was kept in the bedroom, so that it would not be pilfered. To Station-Sergeant Darby : None of the liquor seized belonged to witness. Witness had previously been convicted in court. Michael Heavy, farrier, stated that he saw Aliss Kitts produce 'Beer from her own bedroom to some men from the Opera House, amongst whom were Wykes and Slattery. His Worship said the weight of evidence was against defendant. She had been previously. Gonvicted. A fine of £20 and costs was imposed.