POLICE COURT.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 260, 12 November 1901, Page 3

POLICE COURT.

(Before Mr W. A. Barton, S.M.) DIiUNKENN’ESS. An elderly woman named Louisa Clark, who is at present under a prohibition order, was fined 10s and costs on a charge of drunkenness. On a second charge of being on licensed premises, accused was convicted, and fined £o and costs; in default, 14 days’ imprisonment. A SERIOUS CHARGE. The Court was occupied for the greaterpart of the day in hearing a charge preferred against a young man named Edmund Charles Redward, of administering beer to a boy named William Solomon or Burton. Sergeant Norwood appeared for the prosecution, whilst the defendant was represented by Mr R. N. Jones. The first witness called was Dr G. W. Cole, who stated that he examined the boy at the police station, and found him limp and insensible. Witness had some

difficulty in arousing him, and, when he succeeded, the boy began to vomit. The boy smelt of beer, and vomited over a pint, besides what was spilt on the floor. He could not stand, and witness deemed it advisable to send the boy to the hospital. Witness considered that two mugs full of beer similar to the one produced would be likely to have a serious effect on a lad of tender age, especially in the present case as the boy was of delicate physique. William Solomon deposed he was ten last birthday. On Thursday last he was in Mr Erskine’s bakery, where he saw the

accused, who gave him a billjf to go to the hotel for Gd worth of beer. Witness took ! th 9 beer hack to the bake-house. Ac- j cused was there, another man named ( Hogan, and Willie Pritchard. Witness t put the billy on some sacks. Redward had the first drink, Hogan the next, and j then witness had a drink. The mug was not quite full. Witness had another

drink, the mug being three-parta full. Ten minutes passed between the drinks. Accused gave witness the beer, telling him to drink it, and said it would not hurt him. Witness then went into another room to clean tins, but was unable to do his work, and fell over. He went to his room, as lie felt sick. Witness went out to the yard, but could not walk straight, and did not know what he was doing. Ho did not.remember the polico coining to the bake-house, but recalled being at the police station and the doctor being there. The doctor woke witness up, and he began vomiting. Pritchard also went for beer that day. AVhen witness came back with the beer, Redward remarked,

“ You have got more for 6d than Pritchard got for a shilling.” Morton Wade, plumber, deposed that he saw the boy in Erskinu’s yard about 11.30. Solomon could not stand up, and was rolling about on the ground. Witness saw three men there watching tho boy. They seemed to think it was great sport, and wore laughing. Witness said to them: “ Bo you mean to say that you, calling yourselves men. have given him drink to make him in that state. You arc a disgrace to humanity.” Accused said Yes.” The men threatened witness, ono of tho men saying lie would smack his jaw. Redward remarked that ho did not think witness was from the country, and that he was “ dead slow.” Witness wont in search of a constable, and in company with the police saw the hoy Solomon lying on the floor in a disgusting state, lie was not able to stand, and was lying in his vomit.

.fames Newman, plumber, and a hoy namod Robert Clarke, Sergeant Norwood and Detective Nixon also gave evidence. Mr Jones briefly opened for the defence, submitting that the whole of the evidence was contradictory, and it was not necessary to call on the accused. He called James Hogan, baker, who stated that on tho morning of Thursday \V. Pritchard, himself, and the boy Burton were in the bakehouse. Pritchard had been scut for a shilling’s worth of beer by Mr Erskine. Pritchard was also sent for two bottles of lemonade, which were put into the beer. Witness and Redward had drinks, but the boy did not have any. Redward went away to his own room, The billy and mug were left on the trough. Witness went on with his work. On looking round he saw the boy with tho pannikin to his mouth, drinking. Witness sung out to him, “ What are you doing there, you young cow?” The boy did not answer, but dropped the pannikin and went outside. No other beer was brought into tho bakehouse that day. If Redward had given the boy any beer, witness would have seen it. AVhen ho saw the boy in tho yard afterwards he was staggering about. AVitness thought he was fooling, and said, “Hero’s the boss.” The boy ran into tho bakehouse and up a flight of twelve steps into tho loft.

Louisa Davey stated that on tho Thursday she saw the boy in the bread bakehouse helping himself with a pannikin to something out of a billy. AAhtness asked him what ho was doing, and ho said

“Nothing.” AA'itness asked him to come and help her, but lie did not come. She did.not know what was in tho billy.

Mr Jones submitted that the evidence showed that the boy had taken the beer himself. It was not a case to be sent for trial.

His AVorship considered that a prima facie case had been mado out, and accord-

ingly committed ilic accused to take his trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court, to be held iu Gisborne in April next. Bail was allowed accused in his own recognizances of £IOO and two sureties of £IOO.