MEN IN HOTEL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22476, 21 July 1936, Page 15

MEN IN HOTEL

POLICE COURT SEQUEL DISMISSAL OF CHARGE Charged with being found on the premises of the Star Hotel, Albert Street, without lawful excuse, but not so as to disclose the commission of any other offence, two waterside workers, William Joseph Donovan, aged 2 ( J, and Italph Martin Bylield, aged 42, appeared in the Police Court yesterday. Byfield was also charged with a breach of a prohibition order. Mr. Sullivan appeared for both accused and entered pleas of not guilty. Evidence was given that on the afternoon of July 15 the accused had been found outside the door of the licensee's bedroom. When asked what ho was doing, Donovan replied that he was looking for a Mr. Nolan, and the licensee arranged with a friend to assume this name until the police arrived. There was no guest named Nolan at the hotel. Mr. Sullivan submitted that as the men had been drinking for nearly an hour in the bar, they were on the premises with a lawful excuse. They had gono upstairs to look for a man they had been told was staying at the hotel.

Sub-Inspector Fox submitted that the men were not lawfully on the premises if they were found on the first floor. He said that pecple looking for a guest usually inquired at the office, and did not go up to the first floor. The .magistrate, Mr. W. 11. MoKean, said that under the Act if accused had committed an offence on the premises they would not have come under the section. Their conduct was suspicious, but because they were upstairs he could not say they were there under circumstances that would justify a conviction undr the Police Offences Act. The charge against them was dismissed, but Byfield was lined £1 for the breach of a prohibition order.

ILLEGALLY ON PREMISES MEMBERS OF SHOW TROUPE [BY TKMXMtAI'II —OWN COUUKSI'ONDKXT] WHANGAUKI, Monday Four members of a side-show troupe who performed at the Whangarei Winter Inhibition were charged in the Police Court to-day with heinsi unlawfully on the premises of the Settlers' Hotel after hours on July 3. Accused were Frank Smith. Margery Vntise, Lucille Payne and Kav Scott. Evidence was given that constables who entered the Settlers' Hotel at 9.40 p.m. found the four accused in a sitting room. There was no one in the office and the accused said tlicy were waiting to book rooms. Witness examined the hoarders' book the follow? iny morning and found their names were entered in the book, lint witness was informed they had not stayed at the hotel. They had been staying at Kamo Hotel, three miles away, during the whole week and they stayed tho night of' .Tulv there also. Mr. 1? oss, for accused, said that they had a doubt that thev could renew their accommodation at Kamo that night, so thev booked in at the Settlers' Hotel, and then went to Kamo for their luggage. However, when they got there they found that rooms were available so did not bother to return to tho Settlers' Hotel.

The magistrate, Mr. G. N. Morris, said there was a possibility that the girls wore innocent, but he was sure that Smith was not. Smith was fined £1 and costs £1 2s 9d, and tho other three were convicted and ordered to pay costs.