BILLIARDS AND BEER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 804, 26 October 1929, Page 1

BILLIARDS AND BEER

PAPATOETOE PARTIES SLY-GROG SELLER FINED In fining Thomas Carroll, 23, a billiards saloonkeeper, of Papatoetoe, £lO, with court fees amounting to £1 17s and witness expenses £5 17s 2d, at the Otahuhu Police Court yesterday, Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., said it was deplorable that a young man should be led away by young men or the actions of his predecessor. In evidence, Harold John McMechan, a painter, of Papatoetoe, said he knew defendant, who was a billiards saloonkeeper at Papatoetoe. On the night of August 17 witness arrived at the saloon about 8.15. He asked defendant if he had any liquor. Carrol said he had and witness gave him 2s 6d and received two bottles of beer. He received no change. In answer to Mr. Quartley, he said that he had attended parties in the saloon, prior to the arrival of Carrol, and it had been suggested that Carrol should continue the parties. WHAT THE CONSTABLE SAW

Constable G. J. Maloney, stationed ! at Papatoetoe. said that in consequence of complaints from residents of the district, he visited the billiards saloon on August 17 and took up a position outside the room. He saw a coin handed to a man, who took it and handed one bottle of beer to McMechan and another to his companion. The men had a drink from the bottles and then left. Witness returned about 11.20 p.m. the same evening and looked through a window and saw < some men playing cards in the saloon. In company with Sergeant Lambert ; and Constable Magner. witness again visited the saloon on August 23 with a search warrant. He saw defendant and informed him that he wanted to search the premises for liquor. The search was made, but no liquor was found. In the front of the shop 30 empty beer bottles were found and in a back room an additional 69 empty bottles. All of the bottles appeared to have recently contained liquor. When asked for an explanation, Carrol did not reply, but when pressed he said "Parties.” Sergeant G. H. Lambert corroborated the evidence of the previous witness regarding the searching of the premises. An accountant for a firm of brewers said 26 dozen bottles of beer had been delivered to defendant between August 1 and August 26. THIRSTY CLIENTS On behalf of accused, Mr. A. G. Quartley said the present case was different to the ordinary run 'of slygrog charges. Accused was a young man, who foolishly took up a billiards saloon, which was in the dead end of Papatoetoe. He found that the young people of the district drifted to Otahuhu, where they could purchase liquor. It had been suggested by them that Carroll sohuld do as his predecessor had done, and organise parties where each one contributed for the purchase of beer. In order to popularise the saloon he met the requirements of his young and thirsty clients. There had been as many as 20 present at some of the parties, which would account for the fact that 100 bottles had been found on the premises, but it was strongly favour of accused that no liquor had been found on the premises. Carroll admitted receiving 240 bottles of beer in 15 days. He said he had ordered liquor, as had been suggested to him to draw trade. It was paid for by subscription, by the I members of the party. The parties had been held once or more a week. The magistrate said it was a very funny business for a young man to take up. He had no hesitation in saying the parties were cloaks for the disposal of beer; there was no evidence to prove otherwise. Mr. Quartley intimated that he would plead guilty to a further charge in respect to August 23. The fine was inflicted on the first charge, and on the second Carroll was convicted and discharged.