SLY-GROG CHARGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23489, 28 October 1939, Page 8

SLY-GROG CHARGES

HOBSON STREET OFFENCES DEFENDANT FINED £4O Charged with selling liquor without a licence on September 21 and 22, Joseph Shannon, aged 31, appeared. in the Police Court yesterday before Mr. C R. Orr Walker, S.M.* Defendant, who was; represented by Mr. Sullivan, pleaded guilty to both charges. Senior-Sergeant Joyce stated that a constable went to defendant's house in Hobson Street on September 21 and purchased six pint bottles of beer for. 6s. While he was there bottles were sold to ,Maoris. The constable purchased more bottles of beer the nest day when a number of men, including Maoris, were drinking. As a result of a raid Sergeant Southworth seized 310 small bottles of ale. There were nine persons present at the time, five being Maoris. Such a place in a street like Hobson Street was a source of annoyance. Defendant had been previously convictecl of selling liquor. • Mr. Sullivan said defendant had been foolishly obliging friends. He had been in ill-health for the past five years. The magistrate said a deliberate , breach of the law after a recent con- • viction for a similar offence deserved "imprisonment. *V . After an appeal on the ground of defendant's ill-henlth had been made by Mr. Sullivan the magistrate lined defendant £4O and costs on one charge, and convicted and ordered him to come up for sentence if called upon within 12 months .on the other charge. He said that a further offence would render defendant liable to six months' imprisonment. The liquor was ordered to be forfeited.