INCIDENT AT HOTEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20725, 19 November 1930, Page 14

INCIDENT AT HOTEL.

FAILURE OF PROSECUTION. A BRIDEGROOM'S EVIDENCE. [liY TELEOnATH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT, j WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Charges brought by the police against Cissy Myra Brough, licensee of llic New Zealander Hotel, Manners Street,.-of selling liquor after hours and in keeping the hotel open after hours for the sale of liquor, ami a charge against Joseph Twidle, porter at the hotel, of supplying liquor unlawfully, were dismissed by Mr. T. I). McNeil, S.M., in a written judgment yesterday. At the hearing of the case one of the witnesses was a man who was seen by Sergeant Cleary to leave the hotel al ti.,30 p.m.i on October 8 and get into a waiting taxi. The man made a statement to the police and part of this he, denied when he was giving evidence. In Court lie declared that lie purchased a bottle, of whisky the day before and that it was left for him in the hotel office. " In view of the fact thai when this man was interviewed by the, police be \o<; a bridegroom of a few hours," said Mr. McNeil, " I have come, to the contusion that I should accept his evidence cive:i at tlie hearing as being the truth. Tint is, that on October V ho selected and paid for the bottle of whisky found in hi.j possession ne\t, day, and that when lie paid for it if was put on the counter : o | hat ho might, bad be wished, have, then taken it away. The result was that the saio was complete on October 7. "The, ease is as if the man in question had taken the bottle of whisky into the office himself, left it. there, and called for it the following evening. The only difference was flwit lie arranged I bat. the barman should put the bottle into the office. The practice which was adopted on this occasion, selling liquor during licemed bonis, with an agreement that the pur''!i.'tMT should call for his purchase later, with the result, that he called for it. during prohibited hours, is a. risky one for a licensee and in many instances, of which this is an example, is bound to create suspicion."