SELLING AFTER HOURS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14660, 30 January 1912, Page 3

SELLING AFTER HOURS.

A PUBLICAN'S TROUBLES. FOUR OFFENDERS FINED. At the Magistrate's Court, before Mr V. G. Day, S.AI., yesterday, George Finch; publican nt Cave, was charged with having committed two breaches of the licensing laws on January 6th, in that O he kept his licensed premises open lor the sale of lit]Uor contrary to section 190 of the Licensing Act, 1908; pud (2) that lie did expose liquor for vale contrary to the same section. Defendant, unrepresented by counsel, pleaded) not guilty to both charges- ' Sub-Inspector Phair explained that Police Inspector Kiely -/as at Pleasant Point on the date n 'Question, and drove to Cave in company with Constable Perniskde. When approaching Cave, they found the b*r of the hotel brilliantly lighted. Apparently, the noiie of the trap was heard, for six men were hustled out of the bar aB it pulled up. The constable recognised some of the men, and Jc.iocked on the bar door which had just been locked. Finch, in the presence of the two officers, said that it was 10.10 p.m., and not 10.20 as they .-aid, and that tho men were talking :,n ha bar, and ■would not go out. Evidenoe wais given by Inspector EieJy and Constable Pemiskie in support of the facts as s-st out bv the Sub-Inspector.

> Finch said that just before 10 o'clock there were four men in tho bar, ana ho told them to 3riiik up and got out. No drink was nold "after 10 o'clock, and the door was locked at three-minutes paist the hour. There wts no liquor exposed for salo. Patrick O'Connor said he was opposite the hotel, talking when the trap drove along, and had been there fox oome tune. The hotel >ras closed and the door locked a good whilo before tho officers arrived. Ho onlv had two drinks on tho night of the offence and was baking his time purely on what' Finch told him. John O'Connor gave similar evidence. His "Worship dismissed the charge of keeping open for the sale of liquor because there was no evidence bearing oi that charge. On tha charge of e5 posing hquar for sale, Finch would be hned £5, and costs 7s. This being a first offence, tie'license would not been dorsed. John O'Connor,' Patrick O'Connor, and Martin Condon, were charged with Being on the licensed premises at 10 20 p.m., contrary to section 194 of the Act. c C ? n ?Si 1 ' did not appear, was fined 10s, and oasts 7s. Patrick and John O'Connor pleaded not gm ty and Inspector Kiely and Constable Perniskie gavo evidence ~n support of the charge. His Worship inflicted a fine of 40s r.nd costs 7s ,n each sase, and remarked thn« it was a Pl ty the fine couldno u be made heavier, because a licensee got into trouble through n-en bunging about his premises, :md i«rusmg to leave.