TRAPPING A SHOPKEEPER

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1930, Page 9

TRAPPING A SHOPKEEPER

CIGARETTES ON A SUNDAY. Police tactics in catching a man who gold cigarettes on a Sunday were criticised by Mr. A. V. Fraer in the Police Court at Auckland when Leonard Graham pleaded guilty to a charge of Sunday trading. • „ “I will enter a formal plea of guilty, gaid Mr. Fraer, “but I want to bring one or two facts before your Worship. This man has a shop in Mount Eden Road. At 10.5 n June 1 there was a knock on his door. He unbolted the door ‘ and saw a . man with a couple of girls. In a whisper the man asked defendant whether he could get a packet of cigarettes. The man was admitted, the door was closed and he was sold the cigarettes. Then he disclosed the fact that he was a policeman. We don’t mind a fair ‘cop,’ but I am sure neither yourself nor the Superintendent of Police will agree with those tactics.” Sub-Inspector Shanahan; This is not the first time the man has been caught at this kind of thing. If these men pereist in Sunday trading we are entitled to use such tactics to catch them. Addressing the constable, counsel asked: “Were you told by your superiors to take the girls along to catch this man?” Witness: I refuse to answer questions like that. Mr. Fraer (to the magistrate, Mr. Hunt): Surely your Worship does not approve of tactics like that. It was a trap. „ ■ i “Put the defendant in the box, said Mr. Hunt. Graham told the story of how the constable asked for a packet of cigarettes. “Is that all?” inquired the magistrate. “Yes,” replied Mr. Fraer. “Fined £2 and costs,” said the magistrate.