LICENCE ENDORSED

Evening Star, Issue 19022, 18 August 1925, Page 6

LICENCE ENDORSED

LIQUOR FOR SAILOR OH SUNDAY “SOME PRETTY TALL SMEARING.” At the Police Court this morning, before Air J. IF, Bartholomew, S;M. Margaret Mills was charged that, be ihg the holder of a publican’s license in. respect to Iho Wharf Hotel, she solo, .iiquor during the time the promises should have been closed. The defendant was represented by Mr A. C. Hanlon, who entered a plea of not guilty. John Mahon, a seaman on one of the American warships, said that ho wag in the Wharf Hotel on Sunday evening at 8 o’clock. He went in to obuuu liquor. He walked in through the bads door and saw the licensee. He obtained a bottle of liquor from her, paying 7s for it. Witness was in uniform at the time. On leaving the premises he was accosted by a constable, and he returned with him to the hotel and pointed the licensee out.

To Mr Hanlon : Ho left the ship at 7.50 in the evening, and it was close on 8 o’clock when he was in the hotel. Ho went ashore especially to obtain the whisky, ami ho was positive that he had had no liquor during the day. The woman denied that she sold witness the liquor. Ho admitted that ho said; “I don’t know, i got it in some —— place.” Constable Potts said that on Sunday evening he noticed a, number of American sailors standing near flic Yvliarf Hotel, and ho heard the prudons witness trying to open the l ack door. Witness then described the, subsequent conversation with the licensee, who denied having sold the liquor.

iUr Hanlon said that the defence wo\ild be an absolute denial of the charge. When asked by the constable whether she had sold a bottle of liquor to the sailor, I\lrs I\]ills point blank denied that she had served him,' The sailor then said that ho didn’t know who served him, hut said that somebody had served him about the place. The licensee had the keys of the bur in her possession, and sho would toll the court that the bar had not boon opened. They only had “'he unsupported evidence of the sa.. r plus the statement of the constable to the effect that he saw the sailor lea,ring the hotel .yard. She was invited In plead guilty by the senior sergeant, who had served the summons. Tim proceedings had been hurried, and it seemed H range that an officer of rank should serve a summons.

The defendant stated that she had not served the liquor. There was only one set of keys to the bar, and they were in her possession from 7.30 onwards. She gave evidence on the Hues of Mr Hanlon’s statement. She had been hotel-keeping for twenty-nine years, and had never boon chargee with any broach of the Licensing Act. Michael Kean, Clydevale, said that he was in the hotel office on Sunday with his wife and Mrs Mills from 7.30 onwards. A constable entered and asked Mrs Mills: “ Why did yon give this man whisky?” Mrs Mills replied: “ Excuse mo, I did not.” The constable then stated: “Tin's nun tolls mo you did.” M'Ewon and Margaret Kean gave corroborative evidence. Sergeant Turner said that lie had a conversation with the defendant last evening, when she stated that sho considered that the - case was a frame-up between the constable and the sailor, and that the latter had the flask of whisky in his pocket. The Magistrate said that lie was afraid there had been some pretty tall swearing in the case. The police evidence showed that the sailor was found leaving the hotel with a flask of whisky in his possession. Ho stated that ho had been supplied with the liquor in the hotel, but this had been denied. There was no question but that the sailor was sober, as he had not long left Ids ship. It was perfectly idle and futile to say that the man wished to maliciously lay a charge against the Hotel. The story lie told was quite a natural one. In the course of his statement lie said that lie wont to tho hotel and asked for a quart bottle, hut ho was supplied ■ instead with a pint bottle. It was pointed out that when tho constable spoke to Mrs Mills sho became very excited, and no doubt in consideration of her feelings tho sailor had stated that he didn’t know from whom ho had obtained tho bottle. The licensee and three others had given evidence for the defence, the former stating that she was in the office from 7.30 until the time the police arrived. However, she was not very definite about times, as she stated that the constable arrived at a quarter to 9, which was about half an hour out. As far as the others who had been in tho sitting room were concerned, His Worship considered that it was easy for anyone to leave a room and not be noticed. He saw no reason for doubling the story (old by tlio sailor, and it was too far-fetched to suggest that the case was a framc-np. The defendant would bo convicted.

Senior-sergeant Qunrtermain said that before the fleet arrived tlio licensee had been communicated wilh and told that it was the desire of the American authorities, as well as his superior officers, that (he, men should not be supplied wiih liquor to carry away. The defendant and other licensees had agreed to _ meet these wishes, whilst (ho licensed victuallers hurt also agreed to this. Ho added that sailors found with liquor in their possession were liable to be court martialled, and the punishment was very severe. The Magistrate said (hat ho would have to treat the oil once as a very grave one. Dclendaiit would bo fined TOs and 7s costs, and as tho licensee was directly responsible for supplying the liquor the conviction would be endorsed oa the license.