CASE OF DRUNKENNESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18549, 6 November 1923, Page 10

CASE OF DRUNKENNESS.

CHARGE AGAINST LICENSEE.

fuy TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENTS HAMILTON. Monday. The licensee of the Commercial Hotel, Robert Glynn Lewis, appeared before Mr. H. A. Young, S.M., at the Hamilton Magistrate's Court to day, on a charge of allowing drunkenness on his premises. Mr. King appeared for defendant, who pleaded net guilty. Scnior-Su.geant Matthew said that on October 23, the day following the Waikato Hunt races, a man named Thomas James Adams was found hopelessly drunk at about 3.45. p.m., sitting on a small keg in the public bar at the Commercial Hotel. The barman, who was serving at the bar opposite where Adams had been sitting, was asked how long the man had been there, and he replied: " About half' an hour." Thomas James Adams, a miner, employed at Pukcmiro, said that he could not remember having any drink at the Commercial Hotel after 11 a.m. on the day in question. Senior-Sergeant Matthew gave evidence as to finding Adams in ft drunken condition in the bar of the Commercial Hotel. Constable Lloyd stated that Adams had been in the "hotel for at least 15 minutes prior to his arrest. ■ To Mt. King: Defendant had always assisted the police in any matter connected with the management of his house. His conduct and management of the bar had always been good. ' William George Milton, the 'barman, on duty at the point where Adams was sitting, said that ho could not see Adams sitting on the barrel, which was a low one, and placed well back from the bar. There were a number of people around the bar at the time, and thus witness could not see Adams in the back. Mr. King submitted that there was no evidence to show that either the barman or the licensee had any knowledge of Adams being on the premises. Defendant, in evidence, said that he was always very careful to see that there was no drunkenness in his hotel. Ha had been through tho public bar several times that afternooi, but had not noticed Adams there. The magistrate's decision was.reserved.