POLICE VISIT HOTEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20724, 18 November 1930, Page 12

POLICE VISIT HOTEL.

LIQUOR LAW BREACHES. SEVERAL FINES IMPOSED. A sequel to a recent police visit to the Clarendon Hotel was heard in the Police Court yesterday, when tlic licensee, Walter Henry Overton (Mr. Singer) was charged with keeping his hotel open for the sale, of liquor after hours, and selling and exposing liquor for sale after hours. Charges of being on licensed premises without lawful excuse were preferred against Douglas Hoy Hume, Frank William Kelly, George Miller and William Bekkcr (Mr. Allan Moody), and Leonard Noby Jacobs, Arthur Grange and John Barbrich (Mr. Singer). All pleaded, not guilty. Sergeant Camagnolo said that in company with another officer ho visited the Clarendon Hotel at 9.20 p.m. on September 26. Prior to entering lie taw quito a. number ui people leaving the hotel. Witness rang the bell and alter some delay the licensee cairie to the door. On looking through the glass panel and seeing that his callers were police, the licensee went back along the passage without opening the door. Witness thereupon entered. Two men were in tlio passago preparing to leave the building. When asked what they were doing one man, who gave his name as Scott, said, " I came to see the licensee," while the other man, Grange, said, "I came to see about a bed." The licensee was present, but made no explanation. Witness said he told the licensee ho wished to see through tho night bar, which was in darkness. Witness switched his torch on and saw seven men in tho bar. The licensee would not switch on the electric light when ho was first requested to do so neither would lie reply to witness' question. "What are these men doing here

Mr. Singer said all had acceded to tho advice of their counsel to alter their pleas to guilty. Speaking on behalf of Overton, counsel said his client had been a hotelkeeper for 25 years and had only one conviction, that being many years ago, for an offence of a minor, nature. .Regarding the other men. five were, actually in the hotel over-night.

Detective-Sergeant Kelly said one thing in Ovet ton's favour was that he did not tell any untruths. Ho knew ho was on the wrong side of the fenco and said nothing when the sergeant was questioning tho men. The magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt, said tho licensee would he convicted on tho selling charge only and fined £5, while the other men would be fined £1 each.