SOLDIER-POLICEMEN IMPROVEMENTS AT TRENTHAM

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 93, 18 October 1915, Page 8

SOLDIER-POLICEMEN

IMPROVEMENTS AT TRENTHAM

DEMOLISHING A " LIGHTHOUSE ' SLY GROG PROSECUTIONS. As a sequel to a raid on No. 2, Hol-land-street, and other happenings in the same locality on Sunday, 26th September, Charles Cook appeared at the Magistrate's Court to-day on two informations of selling liquor without a license. Daniel Morris was charged with being the occu- ! pier of unlicensed premises from which liquor was sold, while Agnes Hogg and Michael Morris were prosecuted for being found on the premises. It was agreed to take all the cases together. Inspector MacKinnon conducted the prosecution, and Mr. E. G. Jellicoe defended. The exhibits in Court included several bottles of whisky, some jars containing beer, many glasses, and a number of empty bottles. Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., was on the Bench. Constable Pratt Richards stated that on the Sunday in question he was disguised as a soldier, being dressed in the regulation khaki uniform. When he was walking down Tory-street he met Cook, who winked at him. Constable Pratt returned the wink, and Cook, so encouraged, said : " It's a hot day." The following conversation then ensued : The constable : " Yes, you're right. It is a hot day." Cook : " Could you do with a 'booze'?" "I am dying for a drink." I can get you a bottle of ■whisky." " That will be fine." "It will cost you ten bob." "Eight." "Give me the money and I will get you the whisky." The constable handed over the money, and Cook went away into Holland-street, asking the constable not to follow. In three or four minutes Cook returned, and together the constable and defendant went into Jacobs-place, and the- latter gave the policeman the whisky. Ihe whisky was "so diluted with water that you could hardly taste the whisky." Similar evidence was given by Constable Gillespie. Constable Gillespie was also in a soldier's uniform, and while standing at the corner of Ingestre-street and Tory-street, with a returned trooper, Cook came up and said : "Give us a cigarette, mate," and then : "I know better than to ask a policeman for anything else but a cigarette. You're both policemen." Eventually Cook was convinced that such was not the case, and agreed to obtain a flask of whisky for 3s 6d, the extra 6d being for himself. Cook warned Constable Gillespie and the other not to follow, him when he went for the liquor, "as there were a lot of b D's about in soldiers' uniforms." Sergt Wilcox stated that he and Sergt. Kelly had seen several men go in and out of No. 2, Holland-street. He also gave particulars of the "haul" made on the occasion of the raid. Evidence was also given by Sergt. Kelly, who had charge of the operations. He said that the house had been suspected of being a sly grog-shop, and showed how the place was frequented by men. At the time of the raid those on the premises were drunk with the exception of Michael Morris, who, witness believed, had nothing to do with the "business." Daniel , Morris had admitted that he was the occupier of the house. The woman Hogg was drunk. At this stage, his Worship jemarked that the case against Michael Morris would be dismissed. Mr. Jellicoe submitted that there was absolutely no evidence to show that Morris was privy to, or assented to, the sales made by Cook. No matter how strong the suspicion, that alone wa6 not sufficient to warrant a conviction. Cook had broken the law, and his plea would be altered) to one of guilty. But there was absolutely no evidence to show where he obtained the liquor. His Worship said that it was not necessary for him to find that the liquor supplied to the constable* came from Morris' 6 house. As long as he was satisfied that the liquor found on Morris's premises was more than might be reasonably required by the persons in the house, he could assume that it was there for some illicit purpose. The fact that Cook was found in the house' when the raid was made strengthened the case against Morris. He would require to hear evidence for the defence. Daniel Morris stated that he was "surprised — thundei struck," when he knew that so much liquor was found in his house. He had no idea it was there. Hie Worship said the evidence did not cause him to alter his mind. Morris would be convicted and fined £25, in default, ordered to spend one month in gaol. Notice of appeal was given. Cook was convicted and discharged on the first information, and fined £10, with costs- 7s, on the second. The alternative was one month's imprisonment. The woman Hogg would be given the benefit of the doubt, and the charge dismissed.

The Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey), who visited Trentham yesterday, is greatly impressed with the improvements that have been made at the camp. Speaking of his visit to a reporter he said that since he visited the camp about a month ago a new hospital building with accommodation for 150 beds had been completed. The building was after the new plan, similar to the Tea Kiosk 1 at Trentham. A number of patients had been removed from the racecourse buildings to the other hospital, which was completed last winter. A coating of gravel, in some places 18 inches in depth, had been placed on all the streets and footpaths, and the water channels were all concreted. A hundred shower baths with hot and cold water had been installed, also an up-to-date drying house for drying the men's clothes. The discharge of goods by railway was greatly facilitated by a very commodious goods shed, and suitable storehouses have been built for meat and milk. "There are not many soldiers there at present — something less than 1000—2000 of those formerly in Trentham having gone out 'to the new camp at Mungaroa," added Mr. Massey. "A very large number of new men are coming into camp during the present week. Officers express themselves as perfectly satisfied with the men- who are arriving, and they say also that every possible preparation is being made to meet all eventualities, even if the war lasts for another two years. "'

The stirring- sea battle story told by Tennyson in the poem. "Tho Revenge," and set to music by tho famous Irish composer Stanford, is to be rendered at the Town Hall to-morrow, at 8 p.m., together with Gaul's historic cantata, "Joan of Arc." Scats can bo rcFerved at The Bristol Tho final rehea-rsal takes place at the Town Hall at 7.30 to-night. Messrs. E. Johnston and Co will sell oak furniture and a three-quarter billiarddining table in their rooms on Wednesday, at 1 p.m. Entries for the Wairarapa Show at Cartorton have been coming to hand in large quantities during the last few days, and are still being- received. Sheep and cattlegive promise of an excellent show, especially as numbers of entries have been already received from other districts, and there will be a considerable quantity of extra pens required. Intending exhibitor should forward entries promptly, to avoid being placed at the end of th« catalogs in the late entry list.