A LIQUOR CASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8317, 16 May 1905, Page 2

A LIQUOR CASE.

AN UNUSUAL CHARGE. This morning, before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court, Walter Halliday pleaded not guilty to a charge, that on May 3, at Christchurch, he had allowed liquor to be supplied to an aboriginal Native woman, Heni Soloman, who was not the wife of a European. _ 1 Mr Russell appeared for the defendant. Mr Wright, for the prosecution, said that the information was laid , under Section 2"4 of the Alcoholic Liquor Sales Control Act. Sub-Inspector Dwyer said that he had attended at the Wellington Hotel at about 3.30 p.m. on May 3. He had seen a Native woman sitting on a chair in a room. She had a glass in her hand, all but full of whisky and gingerale, and seemed to be in the act of raising it to her lips when she saw witness. Then she handed it to a man near-by named Seymour. The woman gave her name as Soloman, and said that she was married to a Native. She said tnat the liquor was not hers, and that she had ordered cigarettes. The heard her words, but offered no explanation then. Sergeant Maloncy said that he had acccompanied Sub-Inspector Dwyer, ; and he gave corroborative evidence. Witness had seen defendant's son in a pasaage leading into the room, where several Europeans and the woman, Heni Soloman, had been. Afterwards the defendant was asked for an explanation, and he came forward with a woman, a boarder named Mrs Cowan, Who said that she had brought the drinks into the room. Heni Soloman said that she belonged to Waimate, and was married to a half-caste. She had ordered cigarettes first and then ginger ale. To Mr Russell: Mrs Cowan brought the drinks in, and it was Mrs Cowan's glass that witness held when the police entered the room. Witness did not intend drinking the liquor. The Magistrate said that it was im- , possible to convict when the person to whom the liquir was supposed to have been supplied gave such an absolute denial that she had been supplied with ! liquor or had drunk any. The circum- ; stances were . suspicious, but there Was no evidence to prove that liquor had been supplied. He was very glad that the case had been called, because it would serve as a warning to others.