SLY GROGGER

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1925, Page 8

SLY GROGGER

IMPRISONMENT ORDERED.

Before Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M-, at Ashburton on Friday, Archibald John Templeman (Mr. W. J. Hunter) was charged with keeping and selling li-. quor within the no-license district of Ashburton. Defendant pleaded not guilty. The charge of selling liquor was taken first. • Senior-Sergeant Mathiesou said a witness who was a resident of Ashburton, and whose name he asked to be suppressed, came to the Police Station and asked to be permitted to assist the police in catching Templeman. The police took advantage of the offer. Since the occurrence the witness’s life had been threatened, the tyres of his motor-car had been cut.

Giving evidence, the Senior-Sergeant said that a pound note was marked and given to the witness, who, with the police went up to Templeman’s residence. The police waited outside while the witness went inside. The police heard a cork being pulled from a bottle. Later Templeman and the witness came out to the front gate, where Templeman said: “Wait and I’ll get my car- and drive you home.” He went to get the car when Constable Hassell accosted him. The Sergeant directed Constables Hassell and Paul to search Templeman, and they found a bottle of whisky and a pound note duly marked. The witness told the Sergeant that they had a drink in Templeman’s house, and he had bought the bottle in the possessionof the police for £l. Templeton stated that the liquor and pound note were his own property. Templeman stated that the pound note was thrown down on the table by witness, and he did not want to take it, but he picked it up and put it in his pocket. The police searched the premises, but could not find any more liquor. Templeman said to the Senior-Sergeant: “I was just coming down to see if you would recommend me for a taxi-driver’s license, for I intend to give the up.” In answer to Mr. Hunter, the seniorsergeant stated, that the witness came to him and offered to help them. Such a thing had never been done in Ashburton before. To his knowledge the witness’s place had never been raided and the witness was sober when he visited the police station. The police had not arranged with the witness to say that his car was broken down and ask Templeman to tow him home. As he came out of the house Templeman did not say that the man gave him the pound note to tow the car home. Constables Paul and Hassell corroborated tile ..evidence of the sergeant. Stewart Aichison, grocer, gave evidence as to having bought a bottle of whisky from Templeman for £l. Witness told Templeman that his car was broken down, but he did not mention where. Witness pretended that he was a little bit “tipsy.”

In answer to Mr. Hunter, witness said it was not a fact that whisky was stored in sauce bottles in his shop, nor did he have liquor in a barrel labelled vinegar. For the defence, Mr, Hunter said it was apparent that Aichison had a strong animosity against the defendant. His Worship would have to be sure that he could rely upon his evidence. A weak point of this case 'was that the witness did not bring back the spoil. It was an extraordinary thing that the bottle that Aichison bought was found in Templeman’s pocket- He succeeded in getting the pound note into Templeman’s pocket, but be did not succeed in getting possession of the whisky. ’ Archibald John Templeman said that about 12 o’clock on October 24 he was awakened by Aichison., who asked for a “spot,” and started to curse and swear. He said he was on the road from Methven and his car had broken down. He asked witness to tow him home. He had a drink and threw a pound down on the table, but witness said he did not want it. Witness went out to get his car when he was met by the police. The Magistrate said that neither the evidence of nor his wife (impressed him in the slightest degree. He was quite’ satisfied that the evidence of Aichison was the truth- Defendant was convicted and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour.

Mr Hunter announced that he would probably appeal. The ether charge was withdrawn by leave of the Court.