SUMNER FATALITY.

Grey River Argus, 8 December 1928, Page 3

SUMNER FATALITY.

BOY’S FALL OVER CLIFF. SEQUEL IN COURT. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. b. Four youths, under the age. of 21, went to the iieathcote Arms Hotel on f he afternoon of Saturday, November 17, before setting out for a walk round the dills to Taylor Mistake, l M'ar Sumner. All had five drinks. Throe aniV d safely, but the fourth William James Mowbray, left his com panions and fell over the cliff and was killed. In the Magistrate’s Court to-da\ the licensee: of the Hotel, Grace Moore ,and the barman, Jos ph Gestro, each faced three charges of erving Jquor to persons und< r 21 years qf age. The youths admits d having drinks but were unable to remember which of the two defendants served them, owing to the crowd m the bar, and the rush of business. Tim ages of th e youths were 19, 18 and 17. The Police state d that Moore had an improvement in the conduct of the hotel during her tenancy. The Magistrate said it was evident that youths had been supplied cither by’ till barman or (licensee, but in either event the licensee was responsible. Three of the youths were mere boys. Au onus rested on the pars ui supplying to ascertain whether the i» y wen over age. In the rush ?onie slight excuse might be found, but not iu Jaw, which was always a very hard matter. It was made the mor*? desirous by the death of young Mowbray, whoso death was due to the amount of liquor he obtained at the hotel, or elsewhere. The licensee was fined £6 in all, with costs. The charges against the barman were dismissed without prejudice.