INFORMATIONS DISMISSED

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 25 January 1933, Page 9

INFORMATIONS DISMISSED

—^ — CHARGES AGAINST HOTEL KEEPER. YOUTH APPARENTLY OF AGE. At the Magistrate’s Court in Hawera this morning Henry Mulholland, licensee of the Commercial Hotel at Nornianby, was charged with allowing intoxicating liquor to be supplied to Edward Ernest Floyd, a person apparently under the age o 1 21 years. Similarly, charges were preierred against Agnes Mary Mulholland for suppjymg the liquor and against Alice Gertrude Duggan for sending a person apparently under the age of 21 years to procure the liquor. Mr. John Houston, for the three defendants, entered pleas of not guilty in the case of the licensee and Miss Mulholland for the purpose of determining apparent infancy, and one oi guilty in the case of Miss Mary Dug gan. For the prosecution Sergeant J. Henry stated that Constable F'. Fidgeon observed Floyd - leaving the hotel with a bag on his shoulder. He was approached and questioned as to the contents which included ■ a bottle each of ale and stout and one .of lemonade. Floyd gave his age as 17 years and five months and admitted that he had been sent to purchase the liquor. The circumstances of the incident so far as 'Miss Duggan was concerned were explained by counsel, who said that his client lived with an invalid brother near Nornianby. He had been ordered by the doctor to' take small quantities' of ale or stout and on this particular day Floyd was sent in all good faith to obtain the liquor. For the licensee counsel explained ‘ Unit Mulholland had not previously been charged with a breach of the Licensing Act in the last 15 years, and that he and Miss Mulholland, who was m charge of the bar, believed Floyd to be 1 21 years, of age. At this stage of the proceedings Mr Houston called Floyd into the court. “This boy certainly appears to be very much the age of 21 years,” remarked the magistrate (Mr. J. H. Salmon). “In similar circumstances I have no doubt that I would have been mistaken also.” The information against the licensee and also that against Miss Mulholland were dismissed. Miss Duggan was convicted and fined £l. ‘ _____