SLY-GROG SALES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22195, 23 August 1935, Page 10

SLY-GROG SALES

PRISON AS PENALTY WARNING FROM JUDGE INCREASING SENTENCES GAOL FOR SHOPKEEPER TIME TO ARRANGE AFFAIRS [BY TELECRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] HAMILTON, Thursday By making the sentences progressively heavier Mr. Justice Callan stated in tho Supremo Court to-day that it was to be hoped a deterrent would be provided in cases involving sly grogselling. A verdict of guilty was returned by the jury in the case in which William James Blackman was charged with selling liquor at Taumarunui, a proclaimed area. Evidence for the prosecution was given yesterday, and when tho Court resumed to-day, accused gave evidence in which ho denied having sold any liquor to Constable Phillips. He suggested that tho constable had mistaken his shop for someone else's. At the instance of counsel for accused, Mr. Johnson, the charge of keeping liquor for sale was withdrawn. Accused admitted that he had been previously convicted for sly grog-sell-ing, lyit lie asserted that he had not sold any liquor since his last conviction. He was a married man with seven children. The jury returned within an hour with a verdict of guilty on/two counts of selling liquor. In imposing a sentence of five months' imprisonment, His Honor pointed out that accused had previously been fined sums aggregating £175, and had been sentenced to three and four months' imprisonment. Accused was allowed a fortnight in which to arrange his affairs before entering prison. He was required to enter into a recognisance for £IOO and to report daily to the police. T SENTENCE ON WOMAN REQUEST FOR FINE FAILS [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] HAMILTON, Thuraday "I cannot do as counsel suggests and impose a fine," said Mr. Justice Callan in the Hamilton Supreme Court to-day, when sentencing a married woman, Elsie Clara Howie, aged 44, to three months' imprisonment for illegally selling liquor in Taumarunui. a proclaimed area. Counsel said tho prisoner had had an unhappy life, and had been married three times. Her present husband had left her, and she had had a difficult time in maintaining'and educating her children. Counsel suggested that a fine would meet the case. His Honor referred to prisoner's numerous previous convictions, and said she had rendered herself liable to 12 months' imprisonment.