SLY GROG-SELLING

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 100, 30 April 1938, Page 13

SLY GROG-SELLING

PLIMMERTON CASE

FINES IMPOSED

CONSTABLE'S STRATEGY

Substantial fines were imposed upon two defendants, husband and wife, who were convicted, in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. W. F. Stilwell, S.M., on charges of sly at Plimmerton. filfred Frank Barlow, carrier and taxi-driver, of Plimmerton, was fined £20 and costs, in default one month's imprisonment on each of two charges, and Doris May Barlow was fined £10 and costs, in default 14 days' imprisonment. , Sub-Inspector D. A. McLean prosecuted, and Mr. C. Evans Scott appeared for the defendants, who entered pleas of guilty. As the result of numerous complaints that had come to the police alleging the illegal sale of liquor to men employed at a public works carrip in the locality, said Subrlnspector' McLean, the police investigated, and made several purchases. . When the defendants' premises were searched the police found eleven quart bottles and several empty kegs. It was found that between December, 1937, and March 18, Barlow had bought from city warehouses 126 gallons of beer, and fifteen dozen bottles of beer. It was the first time the accused had been before the Court. '

Mr. Evans Scott said that the defendant carried all classes of goods for residents of Plimmerton. He carried beer for. residents of Plimmerton, but as a carrier only, and not as a seller. On occasions he might have as many as ten kegs to deliver. These customers were not known to the merchants in the city1; and it was arranged that Barlow should take responsibility for the'return of the kegs, and he was charged with the price of the kegs. TRAP, SET. Unfortunately, the defendant had been the victim of a somewhat unfortunate sequence of events. The public works camp was about 3J miles from Plimmerton, and the police had set a trap. A constable had been detailed to work in the camp, said Mr. Evans Scott, and, having become friendly with the accused, had approached them in their house and asked them, as a favour, to supply-him with beer. His first request was unsuccessful, but he was later able to obtain the liquor to which the charges referred. In the camp were no less than 250 workers, but the amount of liquor, supplied was very small, amounting to only a few bottles.

"The trap in this case has resulted in the wrong man being.caught," said Mr. Evans Scott. "There is nothing whatever,, I submit, to indicate that the defendants have been carrying on an illegal trade to any extent at all."

An order was made' for the confiscation of the liquor, which was seized by the police. ,