LICENSING PROSECUTION.

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

LICENSING PROSECUTION.

BEER CALLED FOR AT NIGHT.

PUBLICAN AND CUSfOMER FINED

Admitting both offences, E. P. Coyle, licensee of the Metropolitan Hotol, was charged in tho Folioo Court yesterday with selling liquor aftor hours and with keeping his premises open for the sale of liquor after hours. At the same tuno tl. Bailiff was charged with being found on licensed promises aftor hours. Sub-Inspector McCarthy said that at 10.30 on tho evening of July 20 a sergeant, who was standing nt the corner of Durham Street and Queen Street, saw Bailiff go out of the hotel with a parcel, which was found to contain bottles of beer. Bailiff said that he was taking the beer to men working at His Majesty's Theatre, and that he had ordered the beer in the altcrnoon, when ho had paid for it. However, it was found that (lie licensee had not appropriated it at the time Bailiff had called, but had obtained it for him when ho called in tho evening. The man had been quite frank about tho position, and the sergeant believed his story, l'ho hotel bore a good reputation. Mr. McVeagh, who appeared for Coyle, said i had been arranged that the buyer should return for his purchase before closing time, hut he did not do so. If Coylo had j,.it lags on four bottles with Bailiff's name, there would havo been no broach of the law There had been complete candour on Co.yle's part, and tho caso was only a technical one. Remarking that Coyle should havo inlormod Bailiff that he could not havo the beer, the magistrate, Mr. F. K. llunt, imposed a fine of £2, with costs, on the first charge, whilo tho second, an alternate charge, was withdrawn. Bailiff was uned £3 with costs.