MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Grey River Argus, 21 April 1925, Page 2

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

MONDAY, ABRIL 20th. (Before Air H. P. Lawry, S.M.) Trafficking in Opium. George Stanton was arraigned on six Separate charges of purchasing opium (jit larger quantities than eno fluid OUI - ‘ allowed hy the Opium Regulations Detective (Sergeant Young stated that under the Acta a person was not allowed to buy more than one ounce )of Defendant had boon in the habit of purchasing one ounce from one chemist and a. similar quantity irom other chemists. Mr AV. J. Joyce who appeared for the defendant, stated that his client was not aware of the regulations. Conn sol admitted that defendant had been in the habit of purchasing tinctures of opium, but ho did so for medicinal purposes, as lie suffered from lumbago. Detective-Sergeant Young said that the prosecution was intended to bo a warning to other mon that this traffic. must cease. Defendant was fined £3, imposed on the first count, and defendant was or dored to pav costs on the oilier five charges. William Munns was nrraginod on similar charges, to wit, with purchasing opium on three occasions in lar.LO quantities other than that allowed by the law. Defendant pleaded guilty sibling that he had bought the opium !;• re Hove him of nervous trouble. A. fine of £3 and costs on the fir.-t (ehjarge was ordered Io pay costs on the other two charges. William, Leahy was convict ml and tim'd £2 on one charge, and w:m order ed to nay costs. 7s. on another. Keeping a Gaming House. A. A. C’nuun was charged with keeping a common gaming house. Defendant for whom Mr J. AV. Hannan appe. iod. pleaded guilty. .Detective-Sergeant Young, who conducted the case on behalf of the polio-'', stated that defendant carried on Hie business of bookmaker in a billiard saloon in Albert Street. He did a big business and was aware of the severe penalty that an offender against the Gaming Act was liable to. Defendant, however, was doing sufficient business to take that risk. Among tin' articles discovered on the premises were accounts for over £6OO. Mr Hannan stated that defendant was a man of good character. Up to twelve months ago he had carried on the business of a painter, but, acting on medical advice, he had ceased il.at occupation. Counsel asked that His Worship make the fine as light as possible. Defendant's billiard saloon was not frequented by undesirable cluiraoTn submitting defendant’s account book for His Worship’s inspection. Detective Sergeant Young stated that ;< thc names of many well known local characters appeared in it.” His Worship stated that he would take into account the fact that defendant had not been before the court before. He would also take into consideration the fact that this case was the first of the kind that had occurred in the district for some considerable time. In other districts the cases were more common, and fines of £lOO \vere inflicted. However, His Worship did not intend imposing such a heavy penalty as that. A fine of £25 and costs would be inflicted. Breach of Licensing Act. Colin Campbell, licensee ol the Recreation Hotel, pleaded not guilty to selling liquor after hours. Mr J. AV. Hannan appeared f<>i J' 1 fondant. Senior-Sergeant McCarthy siai'l that at 9.30 p.m. on the lltb March. Sergeant Fryer entered the hMel found four mon in the bar purl.mr. One of Iho mon was a boarder, was usual in such cases the excuse v<l 'j offered tlm. -he boarder had ’ shouted ; for the dri i:'.:s. i :yer mA G .nstiibl.’ >'«>"- ley K nve evidence in support of the previous statement. For (ho defence, Mr .Hannan state: that tire room in xvhieli (be "re’ l " eTP found Jrinklns (was ’•° o ' n used :is n room by fh« lioan ers. His Worship held that (he iprestion involved was whether or not three o the men were bona fide guests oi no fourth, who was ” boarder nt 1 ” te Colin Campbell, the defendant, stated that on (he night in question n men entered the hotel in company wilt a boarder. They went in to the si ting room. The boarder asAo< (witness) to bring drinks, and "' had just complied with the re . “ when Sergeant Fryer knocked at - door. To Senior-Sergeant McCarthy: When the men entered the sitting room a game of cards was proposed. The board er then called for drinks. Witness considered he was quite justified in allowing the men to enter the hotel as they were the guests of a boarder. Tho men went up to the hotel on an average of four nights in tho week. Sometimes they dfid not 'call for a drink at all. Corroborative evidence was given by

the boarder and the three non concerned. His Worship reserved his decision , until this morning. Other Cases. Jack Morrcssy was convicted and fined 5s and costs for riding a bicycle without an alarm bell. E. Kitchingham John Alfred Hart, Michael Hanrahan. Joseph' Porter and Gordon Anderson, for similar offences, were mulct'd in like penalties. Clem Parfitt, for leaving a. horse and vehicle unattended, was lined >s and costs. Thomas Pope, for driving a motor car on the wrong side of Buccleugh Street, was convicted and fined 10s and costs. James Keith, for riding a bicycle after dark without a. light, was convicted and fined five shillings and costs. Edwin Crcssy was convicted and fined 5s and costs for allowing a bay mare to wander at large on Nelson Quay. A similar penalty was imposed on defendant for a second offence of a like, nature. Henry O’Neill, for driving a motor car in a. dangerous manner was convicted and ordered to pay costs, seven shillings. A number of offenders for being on licensed premises after hours, were dealt with in the customary manner.