A TWO-GALLON DEMIJOHN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 9 July 1925, Page 9

A TWO-GALLON DEMIJOHN.

BEER DRINKERS DISTURBED. CASES AT COURT. Loud voices coming from a vacant section adjacent to the Commercial! Hotel on April 11 caused the Hawera police to make investigations, and as a result Jame s Pullen, a half-caste, was charged ,at the Hawera Magistrate’s Court to-day with, supplying liquor to a native for consumption off licensed premises, while two natives, Joe Hohio and Fred Luke, were each charged with aiding and abetting the commission of an offence. The charge against Pullen was taken first, defendant pleading guilty. Sergeant Henry told how Constables Mu llan and Lemm had walked in on the party, finding Pullen seated on a then empty two-gallon demijohn, with a cup in his hand containing a little beer. Hokio, Luke and another native were also present. Pullen had said that he had purchased the beer at the hotel opposite the isite on which tlie “new bank” was being built. The magistrate inflicted a fine of £lO and 7s court costs.

The charge s against Joe Hokio and Fred Luke were then heard, Mr.Beechey appearing in the natives’ defence and pleading not guilty. Pullen was brought as a witness, hut stated that he had paid for the beer. A statement signed by Pullen, and on which the police relied, was produced to Pullen, but was not admitted a s evidence. Pollen was unable to say that anyone else had contributed towards the cost of the beer, and he was not able to depose to the effect that anyone else had consumed any of the liquor. Mr Reechey held that there was no caso to answer.

The magistrate dismissed both informations.