THE LICENSING LAW

Evening Star, Issue 12625, 3 October 1905, Page 3

THE LICENSING LA W

."•.A breach, of the Licensing. Acta* tbSi Britoniart Hotel, Auckland, on July 19, for which the licen6ee"«ajd his wife were summoned yesterday,. w(*s shown to have originated through t!he''tjbnduct of a "mad drunk" man, who flourished a revolver, and was not satisfied until he obtained a whisky and soda. The defendants (William' John Baker and his -wife, Ann Jane Baker) were charged with, having unlawfully sold intoxicants to Alexander Cuddiford; who was already in a state of drunkenness. Mr J. C. Martin, who represented the Bakers, said the facte wera not disputed. Baker was absent from the hotel on business, and left his wife in charge. Cuddiford came in and mada some trouble in the passages of the hotel, where lie wandered about with a revolver. He threatened to flhoot someone outside, but did not try to use the revolver in the hotel. One of bis friends offered to take hini home, but he obstinately refused tmtil be got a drink. Mrs Baker tried to sutLsfv him with'a non-intoxicating drmk, but lie refused it. At last Mrs Baker consented to give Cuddiford whisky and soda, and his friends took him. away. Mr S. Mays (representing tho Crown, Prosecutor) stated that the facts mentioned by Mr Martin were substantially, correct, but CuddifiHtl, soon after leaving the hotel, wns arrested bv the police in a mad state of drunkenness. He was nourishing a revolver, and ha<l a pocketful of cartridges which did not tit it. His Worship came to the eondtLsion thai: the breach of the Act wat» not <k>liberate. Bilker was disupon paying costs, and Mrs was "lined the nominal amount of &5, with costs. Cuddiford, who was described byMr Maya an the author of tho mischief, was asked if he claimed expenses for attending the coint us a witness. He replied in the affirmative. "I am (surprised at your impertinence," sh.uplv replied the magistrite, wlio the application, and suggested that Cuiiditord ought to pay tie expernes of the ijeople whom he luid put to so much trouble.