ON THE BORDER LINE NEWTOWN LIQUOR CASE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 71, 20 September 1912, Page 7

ON THE BORDER LINE NEWTOWN LIQUOR CASE

1 CHARGE AGAINST MRS. BENNETT DISMISSED The Newtown liquor case, in which Gertrude Bennett, shopkeeper, Riddi-ford-street, Newtown, was charged with keeping liquor for sale and with keeping a resort for the consumption of liquor, was disposed of this morning, when Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., dismissed the charges against defendant. In giving judgment, his Worship said that there waß evidence that a large quantity of liquor had been taken to defendant's premises during the past six months, but the evidence was conflicting as to whether the two tramway men found on the premises were or were not drunk. Though the police had had occasion to watch the premises for some considerable time, there was no evidence to show that drunken men had been seen leaving them in the early hours of the morning. Defendant had given an explanation as to why she kept such a large quantity of liquor, but even so there must have been one or two fairly heavy drinkers at the house. He was not prepared to say on the conflicting evidence whether the tra-mway men in the house on the morning of the 7th inst. had obtained drink there, or that liquor had been sold them. There was evidence to show that tramway men were in the habit of going to the house, but they may have been going there for another purpose. It had been ex plained that musical evenings and parties were held at the house, and, in lace of the evidence given by outsiders as to the defendant's hospitality, his Worship held that there was some element of doubt as to whether or not ehe ( was guilty of the charges made against her. The case was a suspicious one; and if persons like the tramway men and the defendant placed themselves in such circumstances as called for action by the police they must take the risk. He was not prepared to say that liquor had been sold, or that the house had been kept as a "resort." The case was very close to the border line, but defendant must have the benefit of the doubt. The case against her would be dismissed. The charges against Albert Scoones, of assisting in keeping the place as a resort for the consumption of liquor, and against the seven men found on tho premises, were withdrawn. Mr. M. Myers appeared for tho defendant.