Supplying Liquor to a Prohibited Person.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XIII, Issue 115, 11 September 1903, Page 2

Supplying Liquor to a Prohibited Person.

At the Paerba Police Court yes- j terday, before R. S. Bush, Esq.,' S.M., Charles Thomas Griffiths was j charged with supplying John Buckeridge, a prohibited person with liquor at Paeroa on August 10th. Accused pleaded not guilty. Constable Whelan deposed that on the night of Thursday, August 10th, he heard a disturbance in the main street in Paeroa. He went up the road and found accused sitting with Buckeridge, who was a prohibited person.. There was a bottle of beer in Buckeridge's pocket, and when witness came up Buckeriiige ran away and " planted " the bottle. Witness found the bottle where Buckeridge had placed it. The bottle he found had beer in it. Witness also found a sarsaparilla bottle in front of where accused and Buckeridge ha 3 been sitting. , Cross-examined by accused : Witness did not see accused hand fche beer to Buckeridge. William Moore, barman in the Commercial Hotel, gave evidence as to Griffiths buying two bottles of beer on the night in question. One of the bottles was a sarsparilla bottle.

.Constable Parsons deposed that accused on the night in question was the worse for drink. Witness saw Constable Whelan bring forth the bottle from where Constable Whelan saw Buckeridge put it. Cross-examined by accused, witness said he could not proye that accused did not take two bottles of, beer home with him on the night in question. This was the case for the prosecution.

Accused elected to giye evidence on Iris own behalf, and stated tbat he was going along the street and he happened to meet Buckeridge. Witness sang a song, and Constable Whelan came over and accused him of supplying Buckeridge with liquor. Buckeridge was working with him (Griffiths).

John Buckeridge also gave evidence for the defence, and stated that Griffiths did not give him any drink, nor did Constable Whelan find any drink on witness. Cross-examined by Constable Whelan, witness said he was only sitting with Griffiths for two or three minutes. He had not seen the bottle of beer before alleged by Constable Whelan to have been planted by Buckeridge. When Constable "Whelan . came over; Griffiths was singing a song.

This was the case for the defence. > . v ' The Magistrate said he had two stories before him, and he had to believe one story or the other. On one side there was the evidence of BucUeridge, a boy of twenty years of age who had a prohibition orde*.' against h,im, and judging by his behaviour, was not ashamed of it. On the other hand there was tH evidence^* Constable Whelan' whom lie (the Magistrate) had known i!or twenty years, and who he knew well would not make an accusation against anybody unless it was true There was also the evidence of the other constable and of the barman, He. was bound to believe one sifle or the other, and he did not believe Griffiths or. his-'witness Buckeridge. He was, however, goins* to give accused a chance., If accused would N consent to a prohibition order being made against him, he (the Magistrate) would probably deal leniently with him; otherwise he would have to be' severely punished. Ho thought „ accused wanted looking after, and was very likely his own worst enemy. Accused said he would consent to a prohibition order being made against-him. - The Magistrate said he would adjourn the case until December 2nd.to s.ee how accused behaved hin)self.: A prohibition order would be made against accused.