ALLEGED SUNDAY TRADING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6488, 7 April 1908, Page 7

ALLEGED SUNDAY TRADING.

A HUTT CASE. At Lower liutt yesterday, before Dr erkiu and Cuduy, J.R.'s, i'etei JJoouau and "it ini-tui AiOeior were cuargeu on miOJ’JJIuUOII WUil Ociug lOUua CJU, prtamouri, iq wit, me AUUiuay xioie , oa Aiurcii iota, inspector ihiuboa speared ou denali of the puuce. Mr mcur«iia wiw lor cieiendantd, who pieuaea not flinty. Coiiotuuie McKenzie deposed, to having, witn Couetainc tox, foiiowtu dexeadaut© into tho hotel l>y tho mdo entrance. iu tuo pariour adjoining tuo Par i hey-found the licensee iu the hot of serving one pi the accused with liquor, ixioauu had a smiling in his hand, out leiurucd it lo his pocket. On 4 iieotioiuug tno dulcudants, tuo licensee volunteered the uUurination that they were old fnenos, and werto there at hit* special invitation, ana that they had engaged a bedroom— jNo. U. The licensee served Hosier while witness was theie. Tho bar-room was dark, Uic blinds being down. Uu Monday morning witness visited No. G with the licensee. Ono bed appeared to have been slept in. Constable Cox said that he and McKenzie found tho defendants and the •licensee in a small room adjoining the bar. Doonan had a glass ot beer in his hand. Hosier was served, by tho licensee in witness’s presence uith a g ass of stout. Questioned by Mcivenzie, de-R-nd.ujU saia iney were going to stop in tho hotel-very likely till St. Patrick s Mr McGrath: Witness, did not see them pay for drink. McKenzie alterwards told witness he saw a shilling m Doonan’s hand, .and asked if he (witness) had seen it. Witness answered No. When questioned by McKenzie, tho licensee said the men were boarders. The defendants' counsel said it would bo shown that Doonan was a very old friend of the licensee. On; the day preceding the alleged offence McManus had met the two defendants, and invited them, bo spend Sunday with him. This they did, remaining to tea ns guests. A licensee had a perfect right to entertain friends on his premises, whether during licensed hours or not. The defendants, -after partaking of the licensee's hospitality, had decided to remain for St. Patricks Hay (the Tuesday following), and had accordingly engaged and paid for beds and for breakfasts next morning. . . . His Worship: And yet tney were his friends? ~ . . Peter Doonan gave evidence in accorddance with the statements outlined by Mr McGrath. He and Hosier each mad two drinks during the Sunday-ythe first on arriving at about 3 o'clock. Both were taken at the licensee's invitation, and ho neither offered nor thought of offering payment. Toward evening he changed his mind about returning to Wellington that day and engaged a bed. He thought the licensee joined them in their drink when tho constables entered. After the constables had cross-questioned him and taken his train for town and did hot occupy the room he had engaged,. . Tli© other defendant gave similar. evidence. He had known the the West Coast. Cornelius McManus said he had Trnnwn Doonon for about sixteen years. Had not seen him for eight or nine years preceding his meeting him in Wellington. Witness was in the bar on the Sunday evening putting his dining-room takings into the safe in accordance with his usual custom. The two accused followed him to the bar-parlour and arranged for beds. He then invited them .to have a drink. He told the nolice the men were his guests. On visiting No. 6 bedroom next morning with Const"hie .McKenzie the. beds apneared to. witness to have been slept on. ■ , „ Each defendant was fined M, and 7s costs.