SLY GROG-SELLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3019, 24 January 1912, Page 8

SLY GROG-SELLING.

A PALMERSTON CASE.

FINE OF £2O.

At the Magistrate’s Court at Palmerton on the 18th, before Mr T. Hutchison, S.M., Patrick Collins, t!io landlord of the old North Western Hotel, was charged with, on the Bth January, selling liquor without having a license so to do.—Detective Thomson, of Dunedin, conducted the prosecution, and Mr J. Crisp appeared for the defendant, who pleaded “ Guilty.” In stating the facts to the bench, Detective Thomson said ho would withdraw a second charge of exposing for sale. The defendant was the occupier of a boardinghouse In consequence of complaints his lujlisj had been kept under observation. It sec, hi <1 that people who were well-known in (he place went to a room adjoining the old bar. and were served with liquor, principally whisky. The Magistrate asked how long this practice had been going on?

Detective Them.son said it had been going on for some time. The house lost its license about two and a-half years ago. The defendant was not then in charge of the house, though ho was the owner. On the occasion referred to in the charge a sale was made. Constable Taylor ami himself wont to a room off the bar, and found there two men who were about to drink whisky. On the counter was a corkscrew with a whisky cork, and under the counter he picked up 34 whisky corks of four different brands. In a safe there were eight bottles of whisky of different brands.

Mr Crisp asked the magistrate to take into consideration the fact that the defendant was the owner of the house, and had conducted it well since no-license was can led two and a-half years ago. The house was recognised as one of the best country houses in Otago. In regard to the suggestion that sly-grog selling had been carried on for some time, he pointed out that the local constable, if called, would tell the court that drunkenness had never been seen about the promises. He had never seen a drunken man come out of the house in the two and a-half years. The proper inference from that fact was that sly-grog selling had not gone on over that period, and that this was an isolated case. In regard to the corks found on the premises, ho thought that more than 34 might he expected to accumulate in two and ahalf years, even whisky corks. Then only eight bottles of whisky were found in the safe. He submitted that, this being holiday time, a great deal more whisky would bo found in private houses at that time. The Magistrate asked Mr Crisp if ho

ounifitanc-e due more to the second ballot had any evidence to show that this was an isolated case. There was the witness box.

Mr Crisp said he would call the defendant.

On being called, the defendant declined to give evidence. The Magistrate said it was competent for the defendant to give evidence, but ho had declined to do so. He thought the proper inference from that fact was that it was not an. isolated case. The defendant would be fined £2O and costs (15s).