SLY GROG SELLING

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 24 August 1935, Page 6

SLY GROG SELLING

Prison as Penalty lor Offences at Taumarunui JUDGE GIVES A WARMING DETERRENT NECESSARY By making the sentences progressively heavier Mr Justice Callan stated 4n< the .Supreme Court that it was to be hoped a deterrent would be provided in cases involving sly grog? selling.

A verdict of guilty was returned by the jury in the case in which William James Blackman was charged with selling liquor at Taumarunui, a proclaimed area. Evidence for the prosecution was given on Thursday, and when the court resumed on Friday, accused gave evidence in which be denied having sold any liquor to Constable Phillips. He suggested that the constable had mistaken his shop for someone else’s. At the instance of counsel for accused, Mr Johnson, the charge of keeping liquor f Qr sale was withdrawn. Accused adiuiftefl that he had heen previously convicted for sly grog-sell-ing, but he asserted that he had not sold any liquor since his last conviction. He was a married man with seven children.

The jury returned within an hour with a verdict of guilty on two counts of selling liquor. In imposing a sentence of five months’ imprisonipent, His Honour pointed out that accused had 1 previously been fined sums aggregating £175, and had been sentenced to three and four months’ imprisonment. Accused was allowed a fortnight in which to arrange his affairs before entering prison. He, was required to enter into a recognisance for £IOO and to report daily to the police. SENTENCE ON WOMAN BEQUEST FOB FINE FAILS “I cannot do as counsel suggests and impose a fine,’’ said Mr Justice Callan when sentencing a married woman, Elsie Clara Howie, aged 44, to three months’ imprisonment for illegally selling liquor in Taumarunui, a proclaimed area. Counsel said the prisoner had had an xmlrappy life, and 1 had been l married three times. Her present husband had left her, and she had had a difficult time in maintaining and educating he?’ children. Counsel suggested that a fine would meet the ease. His Honour referred to prisoner’s numerous previous convictions, and said she had rendered herself liable to 12 months’ imprisonment.