SLY GROG-SELLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20324, 3 August 1929, Page 16

SLY GROG-SELLING.

SHOPS IN HOBSON STREET.

TWO MEN FINED £SO EACH

GAOL FOR SECOND OFFENDER

" DOING AN ENORMOUS TRADE."

"The position in this matter has assumed rather serious proportions," said Sub-Inspector McCarthy in tho Police Court yesterday, when the proprietors of three shops in Ilohson Street were charged with slv grog-selling. " The accused have been selling liquor at Is a bottle, always at late hours. In ono house alone the police seized 22 dozon bottles of beer, as well as a bottle of cocktail mixture. 1 do not ask Your Worship to bo severe, but this practice must be stopped. Fines do not seem to bo a dotcrrent. These men arc making enormous profits and aro doing an erior mous trade."

Tho three men who wore charged were Conrad Beasley, of 205, Ilohson Street, against whom there wcro four charges; William Henry Buckley, of 232, Hobson Street, who also faced four charges; and John Francis Davis, against whom there were three charges. The first case taken was that of Beasley, for whom Mr. Singer, who represented all three, entered a plea of not guilty. Mr. McCarthy said that when the shop was raided by Sergeant Annis and two constables on July 27 they seized 51 bottles of beer, 23 bottles of stout, and a number of empty bottles. Constable's Four Visits. Constable Protious related .how'he had been in the shop four times, being served with beer on each occasion by Beasley. Some of the liquor he took away, while he drank some there. Tho liquor was served in a back room, furnished with tables and chairs, while glasses were provided.

Corroborative evidonce was given by Constable Peterson, who said that on one occasion there were fivo men and three women, nil of whom were drinking, in the shop.

The magistrato, Mr. F. K. Hunt, convicted defendant and stntcd that ho would fix the penalty after the other men had been dealt with.

Mr. Singer said that Beasloy had boen in the shop only a month, and there was nothing against him previously. His wife died last week, and counsel asked that this should be taken into consideration. Mr. McCarthy said that the case against Buckley was similar, the circumstances being the same.

Counsel pointed out that Buckley, who pleaded guilty, had been working until Easter, when he met with an accident, which precluded him from doing heavy work. Man With Previous Conviction. Davis also admitted tho charges. " This is the man who was before Your Worship some time ago for selling liquor in Grey's Avenue," said the sub-inspec-tor. "On that occasion his house was described ns a bar. He was then fined £25. He moved to Hobson Street soon after, and not long after he had been there I received reports that the circumstances wore as suspicious as before." " Davis is married, with two young children," said Mr. Singer. "He has been suffering from miner's complaint." Remarking that men became drunk in the shops and wero seen in the streets in a drunken condition, reflecting on tho police and on tho good conduct of the city hotels, (he magistrate said that both police ofiicor3 and licensees were blamed by the public for tho men who obtained liquor in shops at late hours " I have had Davis before mo previously, and I have convicted him before," continued Mr. Hunt. "Ho does not get another chance. He is sentenced to three months' imprisonment. The others will be fined £SO, in default two months' imprisonment, on the first charge in each case. I will give them seven days in which to pay."