A MOSGIEL BALL

Otago Witness, Issue 3511, 28 June 1921, Page 23

A MOSGIEL BALL

CONSTABLE FOLLOWS DANCERS TO HOTEL. V.’hat was said to be the sequel to a ball at . Mo-mo! and the vigilance of the local cor.-tabio. who noticed a party of thirsty young dancers drive away to an hotel in a motor car. was enncle-d in the Magistrate’s Court at Alcsgiel on Friday, when four young men were charged before Air A. AI. Mowlem. S.AI., with having been found on licensed premises (the Railway Hotel) after hours iat 10 p.m.) oil Alay 20. Air T. O’Shea, for defendants who did not appear, pleaded guilty. The defendants were Thomas Johnston, Francis Do!.hie, Eric Ralston, and Colin Ralston. The licensees (Simon Ballantyne) was charged with unlawfully selling liquor to Eric Ralston after hours, and with supplying liquor to Colin Ralston, not being a bona fid© guest or lodger, and being apparently under 2] years of age. Hannah Housley was also charged with supplying liquor to Colin Ralston. Air B. S. Irwin, who appeared for the licensee and Housley, entered a pica cf net guilty to each charge. Sub-inspector Murray, who prose uteri, said the defendants Johnston, Dobbie, and the Ralstons went to a ball in Mo.sgiel cn the night of May 20. About 9.30 p.m. they left the ball in a car driven by a brother of Johnston, and proceeded to the Railway Hotel. They were seen by a constable, who later found them on the hotel premises. Defendants then told him they had been to a ball and wore feeling dry, so they went round for a drink. When the constable found them in the kitchen they were drinking beer from glasses. In the- room were Mrs Ilou- 7 - ley, Mrs Ballantyne, a boarder, the cook, and the four defendants. Airs Housley. he understood, was generally left in charge of tiie place when the licensee was away, and was liis mother-in-law. The constable risked Airs Housley who had supplied the liquor, and she said she had, saying to the mtn : “Yoii'ro hoarders, aren't you ?” None of them replied. It appeared that tlic licensee had gone to Dunedin, leaving Airs Housley in charge, and had taken away with him the key of the bar. but had left the storeroom open. The constable asked Colin Ralston at the time what his age was, and defendant said 22. but they had since found that he was then 3Hi years chi. Constable Findlay, of Mosgiel, said he saw a light in the bar of the hotel, which went out as he approached. When he went round to the back door of the hotel the cook appeared at a window and asked who was there. A boarder named Ogilvie then appeared in the light of the window and said: “Oh, i( s you, Bill!” and witness went inside. A line - - asked defendants, who were drinking beer out of glasses, who supplied, them with the liquor, and Airs Housley said: “I did. You’re boarders, aren’t you?” addressing the defendants, who did not reply. Witness -aw the licensee a few days later, and he then stated that the liquor had been procured by Airs Housley cut of the storeroom. Tiie defendants. Johnston and Dobbie, sa d tlic-y had teen to the dance and were dry, and went for a drink. Witness was not sure what Eiic Ralston said. C'oiin Ralston saicl nothing. Air Irwin said the position was that Ere Ralston drove a butcher's cart from Allanion and used to go lit to Alosgicl two or tlneo times a week. This night he went in because it would save him a trip the next day. Airs Houslev said that since he was there she would "shout for him, and went into ihe r oreroom and then shouted for him and the others. The young man did not have any. There would he evidence to show that tie licensee was away and had the key cf the bar with him, and that he left instructions to Airs Housley not to supply liquor to anyone. Further.'it was liis custom always to supply boavderU himself. If the court believed the licensee's evidence, then there had been no exoressed or implied authority to supply liquor. Counsel submitted that there was no evidence that any sale had taken place, and that the charge of selling should be dismissed. Even assuming that Colin Ralston was served, he was a guest, because the liquor was supplied gratuitously. Simon Ballantyne said he was away in Dunedin between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. that night, and had the keys of the bar with him. ‘Witness usually served boarders himself. It was true that Eric Ralston was h.s butcher. Airs Housley had no authority to sell liquor to anyone. To Sub-inspector Alnrrny: If the boarders wanted a drink while witness was away they might lie served by All's Housley with bottled beer from the storeroom. AVitness admitted that ho had not met Johnston and Dobbie, but supposed they were with the other'. Airs Housley told him that she cot a bottle of beer from the storeroom and shouted for them. Hannah Hensley said she could not get into the bar that night as she had no key. Erie Ralston told her he had gone round for orders. Colin Ralston, did not have » drink, and never had a glass in his hand. To Sub-inspector Alurray: Witness asked the boys into the kitchen when they knocked, and said she would sho d for them. She got a bottle of lic-er from the storeroom and two glasses from ihe scullery. AVitness asked Colin Ralston if he would have a drink, but he said: ‘‘No. thank you.” Johnston d o not drink. AVitness did not toll the c< nstahle that, the men were boarders. George Aleldrum, a boarder at the hotel, also gave evidence. The Magistrate announced, after tbo luuclican adjournment, that he considered the charges against the licensee and Housley should be further inquired into, and said lie would give- liis decision in Dunedin on Tuesday. Each of the four defendants who pleaded guilty to being found on licensed premises was fined £l, with costs (7s).