SLY GROG-SELLING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11293, 19 August 1922, Page 6

SLY GROG-SELLING

FINES TOTAL £125 CONVICTION AGAINST RESTAURANT KEEPERS. POLICE RAID AFTER PURCHASES The Magistrate's Court, yesterday, had somewhat the appearance of a liquor booth, when some fifty-five bottles of beer, wine and stout, were produced as exhibits in a case in which Alfred Jansen and Mary McNaught Jansen appeared before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., on various charges of selling liquor without having a license. The female defendant was charged with selling liquor on July 28th, but against Alfred Jansen were two charges of selling liquor on July 2oth and one of selling on July 28th. A further charge was preferred against the male defendant, of permitting liquor to he consumed in a restaurant after hotels were closed. Sub-Inspector McNamara prosecuted and Mr A. B. Sievwright represented the defendants. A POLICE RAID. The sub-inspector explained that the defendants were restaurant-keep-ers at 169, Cuba street. On various occasions on the days in question, two police officers in plain clothes had yisited the premises and had obtained liquor—and paid for it. A raid had subsequently been organised, and the efforts of the police had resulted in the discovery of some fifty bottles of beer and several bottles of wine and stout. They had evidently been doing a very lively trade. Charles Dunford King, a probationary constable, deposed to having visited the premises at 169, Cuba street, in company with a person named William Brown. Both men had gone through to the rear of the premises and had returned with five quart bottles of beer Jansen went into a side room and returned fith five quart bottles of beer and handed them to witness and his companion in exchange for a pound note. Jansen had given five halfcrowns as change. Witness and Brown, together with two companions, had consumed the liquor, and after having been to a theatre had returned to the restaurant, where three more bottles of beer had been procured. The party had adjourned, and two of the bottles had been consumed, but the remaining one had been kept and was produced in court by the witness. About 8.20 p.m. on the 28th of the same month, witness, in company with Constable McPherson, had visited the restaurant hut had learnt that Jansen was out. Airs Jansen, however, had supplied the men with three bottles of beer. About 9.45 p.m?" witness and his companion had again visited the Restaurant and lhad interviewed Mr Jansen, ttho had supplied them with three more bottles of beer. Witnesß had paid six shillings for the liquor. Witness had visited the premises acting under instructions from his superiors. Hugh Peterson Bayne McPherson, another probationary constable, who had accompanied the previous witness bn two of the visits to the restaurant, gave corroborative evidence as to how the liquor had been bought. “I KEPT IT FOR MYSELF.” Sergeant Butler stated that on the night of July 28th he had received from Constable King three bottles of beer, whioh witness produced. Witness had. followed McPherson and King down the road l , and had seen the men enter the restaurant in question. They had been inside about ten minutes. In oonsequence of information received from King and McPherson, witness, in company with Sergeant Quayle, had visited the premises, and saw two men sitting at a table with an empty heer bottle, a partly full bottle of beer and two glasses. Jansen was also sitting near the table. One of the' men at the table explained that he had been having Supper and upon the arrival of his companion they had decided to “hare a drink,” and . liquor had then been supplied by Jansen. When the police arrived the men had already consumed one bottle and were busy on the other. Witness had then informed Jansen that he was suspected of sly grog-selling, and that if he had any liquor ho had better produce it. Jansen denied having any on the premises, so witness had then produced a warrant and had commenced to make a search. Jansen then had said: “I’ll show you what I have, but I keep it for myself.” Witness had then been conducted to a small storeroom in whioh were 55 bottles of Speight’s beer, 20 bottles of stout, 9 bottles of wine, and in the yard. was an empty case containing ten empty bottles. The liqnor had then been seized and taken to the police station. Sergeants Stark and Quayle, who had accompanied the previous witness, gave corroborative evidence. FOR THE DEFENCE. John Alfred Jansen, the proprietor of the restaurant in question, stated that ho had always been in the habit of keeping a stock of liquor for private consumption, for he did not like visiting publio bars. Ten dozen bottles was witness’s usual order from the merchants. He had never sold any liquor on the premises. Mary Jansen, the wife of the previous witness, admitted having a decided liking for stout. AVitnese did not ever drink beer, but several of the servants were allowed liquor with their meals. No liqnor of any description had ever been sold on tb& promisee. Ivy Alice Long, who had been on the premises up to the time of the arrival of the police, stated that she had not seen anyone supplied with liquor. FINES TOTAL £125. His Worship was of the opinion that the defendants would have done better for themselves had they taken the advice which he was. certain Mr Sievvright had given them, namely, .“Admit the offence if you have committed it.” The case against defendants had been mere than amply proved, and on the charges of selling the liqnor the magistrate said that he was well satisfied,of the guilt of .both Jansen and his wife. On the first charge on each of the dates in question the male defendant would be fined £SO (£IOO in all) and would be convicted and discharged on the other oounts., Mrs Jansen would be fined £25. The inclusion of so popular an artist as Mr. W. S. Percy in the already generous cast of “The Boy” is of supreme importance to Wellington playgoers. It is probable that at no time has there ‘been known so widely appreciated a comedian as “Billy” Percy. Mr Percy recently returned from London. He entered that city of theatrical hopes and despairs practically unknown, and left it, at the call of “home, sweet home” fully recognised as a clever actor who had made good definitely. In his ten years’ stay ho had ' many first-class engagements, in several creating roles in musical comedies that have since become famous Mr Percy will be seen ns “Mr Honey Call” in ‘The Boy,” the new J. C. Williamson musical comedy to be seen here on Thursday.