"SLY-GROGGING"

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 149, 20 December 1929, Page 12

"SLY-GROGGING"

SALES AT EASTBOURNE

One of the means adopted by an Eastbourne bootmaker, Albert Lucchesi, to augment his small income, was to sell liquor in the Bay. Decently a eoustable purchased some beer from Lucchesi, and a charge was laid against him of having sold the liquor without a licence. Lucchesi pleaded guilty in the Magistrate's Court today. .For some months past, said SeniorSergeant Ward, Lucchesi had been "sly-grogging" at Eastbourne. On 14th November he sold a constable four bottles of beer at Is 9d each, and within half an hour of the constable's visit a search warrant was executed on the premises. Seventy-four full bottles of liquor—sixty-eight of ale and six of stout—were found, and also nine "empties," in the house. In the yard there were thirty-three empty bottles. The defendant's practice had been to sell liquor to young men coming from dances at' Day's Bay. He was a married man in poor circumstances and had two young children. "In these days of bitumenised roads and cheap fares, and when a person who walks more than a quarter of a mile is looked upon as somewhat of an oddity, I am informed that there is nothing much in the boot repairing business, '' said Mr. W. 13. Leicester, counsel for the defendant. At one stage, he added, it appeared as though Lucceshi would have to. file a petition in bankruptcy, and it was really at the suggestion of some friends that he started to get liquor. He operated more in the nature of a commission or selling agent, and had not been doing business in a big way. The Magistrate (Mr. E. Page) reminded Lucchesi that he was liable to a fine of £50, and that the legislature looked upon sly-grogging as a serious offence. However, it had been stated that he was in poor circumstances. He would lie fined £5 and costs. An order was made for the forfeiture of the liquor seized by the police.