DUNEDIN POLICE COURT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3276, 27 December 1916, Page 23

DUNEDIN POLICE COURT.

Y'.'edxesday, December 20. (Before Mr 11. A. Young, S.M.. Licensing Cases. —Murray, Roberts, a.n<J Co., for whom Mr Lemon appeared, pleaded "Guilty" to sending liquor into a no-license district without notifying the clerk of the court in the district where the iiquor was sent. —Counsel stated that this was duo to tho fact that the firm's staif had become disorganised through a> number of employees having enlisted, and tho inexperienced clerks now, of necessity, employed, were responsible for the omission.—A fine of 10s, with costs (7s), waa imposed. Alexander M'Gavin pleaded '"iNot guilty" to a charge of being found on tho premises of the Shamrock Hotel when such premises were required under tho Licensing Act to be closed. —Mr Irwin defended, and .Sub-inspector Fouhy proseucted.—Sergeant Thomson gave formal evidence. —In reply to a question, M'Gavin, had said ho was a boarder. Later in tho evening witness returned and asked to seo the room occupied by defendant. It? was empty, and M'Gavin was not on the premises.—Defendant, in the course of hia evidence, stated that it was his intention to stop at tho Shamrock Hotel on the night concerned, but on visiting his mother , she asked him to stay with her, as she waa not well.—After hearing the evidence of tho licensee and his son, the magistrate considered tho defendant's explanation waa very thin, and he was satisfied he was not) a lodger in the ordinary meaning of the Act, and that his presence on the hotel was in contravention of the Act. He would bo convicted and fined 20s, with costs (7s).

A Sly Grog- Case—Robert Statham was charged that, on September 6, afc Kaitangata, he kept liquor for sale, and also with selling same. —Mr B. S. Irwin appeared for defendant, and pleaded "Not Guilty" to each charge. —This charge was partly heard at Kaitangata recently, but had been adjourned to Duncdin for the production of the evidence of (James M. G. Johnson, who did not appear at tho original hearing, when it was alleged that defendant had "sold liquor to this person.— This witness stated that he bought liquor from defendant,—ln reply to Mr Irwin, witness stated that he left the Post Oflica at Dun-din, where he had been transferred from Kaitangata, and went to Ida Valley without leave, and without informing his, parents. He was in difficulties at the time, and defendant lent him money. The defendant had previously given him liquor, but this was the first occasion on which ho. had purchased liquor from defendant. When asked where he got the liquor ha said, "Go and see Jones," but when ho said he got the liquor from another man he did so to shield Statham. He would contradict anyone who said that he stated he got the liquor from Jones. —The defendant produced invoices of tho liquor received by him from May until October. Ho denied having sold any liquor at all. — To Sub-inspector Fouhy he said he had nob seen Johnson that night at all, but had been told that he was at the house. Witness was away at his place of employment at this time. ' He had received four dozen and a-half of ale twice in five months, which was not for the purpose of illicit trading.—• The magistrate held there was nothing shown that defendant had any more liquor in his possession than was required for his own consumption; therefore the charge o£ keeping liquor for sale would be dismissed. With respect to the second charge of a definite sale of liquor to Johnson, _ there! was only the evidence of Johnson, which was not satisfactory. This information, also would be dismissed.