LICENSING LAW

Evening Star, Issue 18809, 6 December 1924, Page 10

LICENSING LAW

MIDDLEMARCH CASES. APPEAL AGAINST CONVICTION. Judgment was given by Me 11. •). Dixon, SAL, "in Dunedin this morning in connection with the charge heard at Middlemarch recently against Murdoch Urquliart (barman) of (1) with being a person other than the licensee ho did supply liquor to one Hugh Ferguson Coulter during such lime as the premises were required by law to bo closed, and (2) with exposing liquor for sale. At the hearing Mr T. O’Shea, appeared for Urquliart. In giving Ills decision, llis Worship said lie would prefer to accept the evidence^ of Coulter to that of defendant, who denied that Coulter was supplied before 9 a.m. Defendant would ho convicted and fined £4, with costs (15s) and witnesses’ expenses (£5 16s). Mr O’fSJiea asked that the penalty bo increased to £5 to give the right of appeal. He, slated that one witness who had been put. into the box by the police at the first hearing did not appear at the second hearing, and it was understood that his evidence would have thrown material, light on the matter in favor of defendant. The appeal would bo brought with a view to having him called. The fine was increased to £6. The following charges against_ John Simpson (the licensee] were adjourned pending the hearing of the appeal(l) With being the licensee of the StrathTaieri Hotel ho did open such premises for the sale of liquor during the time sucli hotel was required by law to .bo closed, and (2) he did sell liquor—to wit, a bottle of whiskv —to one Hugh Ferguson Coulter, and (3) with exposing liquor for sale, and in which Murdoch Urquliart was charged. Mr W. G. Hay appeared for Simpson.