LICENSING LAWS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 78, 4 April 1910, Page 8

LICENSING LAWS.

ALLEGED BREACHES. CASES AGAINST A LICENSEE. In the Magistrate's Court to-day, befoio Mr. W. U. Haselden, S.M., the jiolue piosecuted Catherine M'Enroe, licensee of the Britannia Hotel, on two allegations of breaches of the Licensing Act. The charges were : (1) Selling liquor on the 13th Match last to John B. Moiri» at a time when the premises .were required to be closed ; and (2) keeping her premises open on the same date for the sale of liquor. In addition, Kate M'Enroe was charged with supplying Hqudr to a person not entitled to be supplied. The former defendant did not appear. Mr. Fitzgibbon, who appeared for the defence, entered pleas of not guilty. Evidence was given by two police probationers that they were taken into the Britannia Hotel on the Sunday, the 13tW March, by a porter, whom they met in Courtenay-place. Tho drink was supplied to them in a balhroom. Before leaving they asked to be supplied with some liquor to carry away. Defendant Kate M'Enroe refused, but the porter afterwards made arrangements. He took the liquor out of one door, and the probationers left by another exit. In defence it was stated that defendant, Kate M'Enroe, was informed by the porter that the two men (probationers) wished to stay at. the hotel. Defendant, Catherine M'Enroe, it was explained, was unable to attend the court owing to illness, a fact which counsel asked should be taken into account. The magistrate, in reserving his decision until to-morrow, said that under the circumstances he would not endorse the license. A SEVERE PENALTY. Thomas Kennedy was charged on two informations with selling beer without a license. He pleaded not guilty. Evidence was given by police probationers that they were escorted to accused's house in Tory-street and supplied with liquor. Accused admitted giving a bottle of beer to n friend who had just arrived by steamer. His friend remarked : "This beer cost nothing ; here's a couple of shillings to buy cigarettes with." In inflicting a tine of tiVQ, with costs 7s, for the first offence, the magistrate eaid : "Your beer, I should say, is better than your fiction.'* Penalty for default was two months' imprisonment. For tne second offence a nominal penalty of £1, with costs 7a, was imposed. The option was 48 hour*' imprisonment. OTHER CASES. A prohibited person named George Robertson Gray was charged with procuring, liquor from Edward Towersey, who, in turn, was called to appear on a charge of procuring beer for the former, knowing that he was. a prohibited person. Mr. M'Grath, for defendants, pleaded not guilty. Informant in these cases was ab>o a police probationer. It appeared that he had been living in the same boardinghouse as defendants, with whom lie had been drinking. He had heard Towersey remark nomeuiing to the effect that he would have to be careful. Judgment was reserved until the 11th inst., the magistrate remarking that if he inflicted a fine it would only be a nominal one.