HOTEL LICENSEE IN COURT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 23, 20 September 1912, Page 6

HOTEL LICENSEE IN COURT.

PERMITTING DRUNKENNESS ON PREMISES. The Magistrate's Court this morning was occupied in hearing a case against J. Fitzgerald, licensee of the Wmpiro Hotel, for permitting drunkenness on licensed premises. Mr. Robert Spence appeared for the licensee, and Sergeant McNeoly conducted the' ease for the police. The Sergeant stated that a few minutes before 3 o'clock on Saturday, 31st August last, ho in company with Constable McGowan, went into the bar of the Empire "Hotel, of which defendant was licensee. They found in the bar a drunken man, who was half sitting, iialf lying, on a pile of boxes, right in front of the bar, and not more than eight feet from the counter, directly opposite the cash register. A barman had charge of the bar, but when lie asked him what the drunken man was doing there in that condition he said that he did not know, and that he had been busy and the man had escaped his attention. ' Constable McGowan gave evidence on the same lines.

Mr. Spence addressed the Court at some length. He stated that Mr. Fitzgerald had had over twenty years' experience as a hotel keeper, iiad never been before the Court before. He would show that the man had been on several occasions turned out of the hotel, and had not been on this occasion supplied with liquor. The barman had ordered the man off the premises, and was not aware that the man was still on the premises when the police entered. Tho licensee, barman and another witness gave evidence on tliese lines. In giving judgment his Worship said that tho case presented no difficulties. The barman's duty was to see the man off the promises, after ordering him to go. In this duty the barman had failed, and he was bound to convict. There was nothing to show that the hotel was not boing run in a proper manner, and there was no question of an endorsement of the license. He would fine defendant £2, and 7s costs.