SLY GROG-SELLING

Evening Star, Issue 19044, 12 September 1925, Page 11

SLY GROG-SELLING

CHINAMAN FINED £ls A MILTON CASE. hi the Magistrate’s Court at Milton yesterday, before Mr H. J. DA on, S.M., Wah Lee, a market gardener, was charged with keeping liquor for sale between Juno 7 and September 7 i in a no-license area. He pleaded not guilty, and was represented by Mr G. H. Thomson, while the prosecution was conducted by Sergeant Dunlop. Constable M'Whitty said that on Monday last, in company with Sergeant Dunlop, ho executed a search warrant on tlio premises of the defendant. Defendant said; “No liquor here,” but witness and the sergeant entered the hut and found half a bottle of rum on the mantelpiece in the kitchen, and in a bedroom a case containing four bottles of D.C.L. Special covered over'with a sack. In another bedroom, underneath a bed, was a full bottle of rum. When witness was leaving the premises with the liquor the defendant wanted to know “ What for you do to me?” Witness told him that he would have to go to court. “You’ll put me in gaol? Me scllo no more. Next time you catch me you put mo in gaol,” was the defendant's answer. The defendant had said that ho sometimes gave two bottles in one week to other Chinamen who worked for him. Sergeant Dunlop said that the hut consisted of four small rooms. After they had discovered the liquor the defendant ordered a young Chinaman out of the kitchen, and asked witness ‘ What for yon do?” He wanted the liquor to be left behind, and asked specially for some or the rum. Witness explained to him that it would have to bo taken to court, and there was no further conversation until they wtre going away, when the defendant asked Constable M'Whitty, “ Whaffor you do this?” Other evidence was given as to the purchase of whisky, rum, and gin by the defendant. The defendant, through his interpreter, said that ho did not understand the warrant when it was read. The sergeant had told him “Next time I find you keeping that stuff I’ll put you in gaol.” Sergeant Dunlop; Who told him that. The Interpreter: He say both. Defendant admitted that he got a case on the Monday before the police came along. There was whisky on the table for all hands at every meal, and occasionally for two_ or three visitors, and oven five or six at times. The whisky was left on the table, and they could drink it when they liked. On cold days more whisky was drunk than on other days. The Chinese New T ear, in February, and the English New Year were both occasions for celebration. Witness stated that he earned £7 or £8 a week. Loo Jung, defendant’s son. said that most Chinamen drank whisky or gin at meals, ft was a recognised custom. ,Ten or eifijht or six bottles ■would) fbd used this way in a week. George Shing said that Ins beverage was whatever was on tlio table—whisky or gin. The Magistrate: How do Chinamen take their whisky? . Witness: They don’t put water in it. They take it neat, and more than a cupful at a time. In giving judgment, His Worship remarked that the defendant had had a fair quantity of whisky during the period mentioned, in the charge, and the odus was on him to satisfy tho court that it was not for sale. In tho first place, there was his admission to the constable that ho would not sell again if ho were not sent to gaol. Amiin ho was satisfied that Wah knew more English than he appeared to. Then there was the fact that he earned £6 or £7 a week, and paid about £G in wages. Ho had not satisfied him that tho liquor was not kept for safe. The defendant would he convicted. On account of Ids apparently poor condition the fine would hq less than otherwise. Defendant would he 1 required to pay £ls and costs (£5 Ids) • _