NINE-YEAR-OLD CRIME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19390, 27 July 1926, Page 13

NINE-YEAR-OLD CRIME.

HOTEL LICENSE REFUSED. MELBOURNE BENCH'S DECISION. The late Mr. P. J. Dwyer, P.M., said once that there should be a "statute of limitations" in regard to crime, remarks a Melbourne paper. He refused to withhold a hotel license from a man who had been convicted of an offence 18 years previously. The present Licensing Court may take the same view, but it declined to transfer a license to a man who had been convicted in 1917 of receiving stolen property. The police opposed the transfer on the grounds of the previous conviction. Mr. Gorman, who appeared for the applicant, said that his client had been convicted and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment nine years ago. He had promised his mother that he would "go straight" when he came out of prison, and he had kept that promise strictly. Applicant had helped his mother in a wine saloon fox some time, and when his mother died in 1923 he had, as executor under the will, become the licensee. Learning that he had been convicted the police decided to oppose the renewal of the license. The man sold the business and went to New South Wales, where he held a license at Marrickville. He returned to Victoria and held a grocer's wine and spirit license in North Fitzroy. The chairman asked if the applicant had disclosed- his previous record in Victoria when applying for a license in New South Wales. Mr. Gorman: it is extremely unlikely. The Chairman: He must have known that he would have been opposeid.' Mr. Gorman: His place in North Fitzroy was entered by burglars, and the police recognised him as a man who had been convicted in years gone by. He then sold out ot the business. The Chairman: He must have known that he would be opposed at the renewals. That is probably why he sold out. Mr. Gorman: That is clear. The Chairman: Officers in New South Wales would be surprised at the information given in th ; s Court this morning. Mr. Lock (member of the Court): Why does he not go intc. some other business ? In the licensing business he is suspect. The Chairman: And more suspect than ever because he hoodwihked the Court. Mr. Gorman: He was married last December, and he has paid £6OOO for this hotel The Chairman: The Court is not favourable to granting the license. Mr. Gorman. Would you indicate whether the Court would regard this conviction as a permanent bar ? The Chairman: You need not carry the matter further at present.