STOLEN LIQUOR.

Grey River Argus, 21 June 1927, Page 8

STOLEN LIQUOR.

CHARGE AGAINST LABOURER. CONVICTED OF “RECEIVING.” William Mann appeared before Mr J. G. L. Hewitt at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on a charge of stealing five bottles of whisky and four bottles of Schnapps, of a total value of £5 9s 6d, the property of William Robert Kettle, and was also charged with having received one bottle of whisky, value 13s 6d, knowing.it to have been dishonestly obtained.

Detective Murch stated that on the 7th inst. the window of Mr Kettle’s shop in Mawhera Quay was broken, and five bottles of whisky and four bottles of Schnapps were found to be missing. Accused arrived in Greymouth of the 7th inst., and stayed at the Union Hotel for the night. The next morning it was found that he had no money. Accused had then travelled to Reefton in the van of the goods train with a bottle of Black and White whisky in his possession. When questioned by the police at Reefton, accused had stated that he had got the bottle from the licensee of the Union Hotel, but later he had said that a man in the bar had given it to him. That particular brand of whisky had not been stocked by the proprietors of the Union Hotel for the past two years. When questioned by him at Greymouth,

accused had told him his story of the man having given the whisky to him: but this time he had said that he had met the man coining out of the door of the hotel. He also stated that he had slept in a loose box at the rear of the hotel, and got up early and entered the kitchen by the back door. Witness stated that he could not have done so without being seen by the cook. Constable Brown gave evidence that he had found the window of Kettle’s shop broken while walking along Mawhera Quay about 6.30 a.m.

Constable Houston stated that when interviewed by Sergt. Fryer at Reef ton accused said he had stayed at the Union Hotel on the night of the 7th and Sth inst., and had bought the whisky from the licensee. Enquiries wore made at Greymouth, and accused later said that he had got the whisky from a man in the bar, and admitted that he had not slept in the hotel on Wednesday night, but in the loose box. Accused had described the man whom he alleged had given him the whisky, and said he would know him again. William Robert Kettle, merchant, gave evidence concerning the missing bottles of whisky and Schnapps, which ho valued at £5. He had not previously seen the accused.

Detective Murch, giving evidence, said that he had interviewed accused on his return from Reefton. Accused had then also admitted to him that he had slept in the loose box, but stated that he had got up early, and on going to the front of the hotel a man had offered him a quart bottle of Black

and White whisky. He could not explain why he had told the police at Reefton that he had got the whisky from the licensee. He had said that he had got drunk, and when he woke up he found himself in the loose box. He had thrown the empty bottle out of the train.

Percy James Patterson, licensee of the Union Hotel, stated that he had seen accused on the Wednesday morning, and he had asked for a drink, am' placing a threepenny-piece and two pennies on the counter, said that was all he had got. Witness had not seen accused spend more than one shilling at the hotel, though several boardeis had “shouted” for him. He had left the hotel in the morning, and had not paid for his board. The loose boxes did not look as if they had been slept in, rfhd accused could not have come into the hotel from the rear without / being seen. Questioned by accused, witness said he had not seen accused “shout,” but had heard a man say that unless he was going to “shout” he had better go to bed. Accused: Don’t you remember a young fellow coming to the hotel? Witness: I don’t remember anyone coming. Accessed: Not a young man—belonging to the Council staff? Witness: No; I don’t. Accused remarked that perhaps witness was afraid to say anything about it as it was after hours.

Joan Gallaher, cook of the Union Hotel, stated that the kitchen door was left open every morning, and she would have seen anyone who came in When she first saw accused he had a moustache, but he had apparently shave it off. Accused declined to go into the wit-ness-box. The Magistrate said that there was no doubt that the whisky was stolen. Accused had made contradictory statements concerning the bottle he had in his possession, and it was a fair deduction that, it was one of those which were stolen. An innocent man would have made a straightforward explana tion about the inatter. Accused was Vjonvieted, and sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment.