A PROHIBITED PERSON

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10536, 10 August 1912, Page 8

A PROHIBITED PERSON

' 'KEGS OF BEER AND METHYLATED SPIRITS. ' • I One phase of the Magistrate's Court ,prooeedings very seldom comes before -the public, namely, the application for /prohibition orders. It is seldom that ■ '.the application is opposed, but if that does happen the evidence in support of the"-application is usually of an interesting natnre, particularly to the opponents of the liquor traffic. I 'At"the Court this mormng ; before l,&r H. W. Bishop, S.M., a big, blustering man, whose appearance suggested.'a partiality to grog, appeared and announced that he would defend an , application made by the police that ' * prohibition order should be issued (against him on the grounds that "by t excessive drinking of liquor, he did 'misspend, waste, lessen his estate, ■ greatly injure his health and interrupt ithe peace and happiness of his family." ''"Constable Pratt, stationed at Addington, .said that the defendant was a 'confirmed drunkard. - He was in the t habit of getting a number of men to his' house and " turning on beer" for them. Witness had found defendant 'one Sunday with a number of other men drinking beer from a keg. One of the men was so drunk that wit'ness had to arrest him. About a month ago "defendant's wife had come to his office and had said that -when ghe came home that afternoon she had iound her husband and another man 'named Carlton "dead drunk" in her bed. She was afraid to take an order but • against her husband on account of his violent nature. Witness had *poken- to defendant about his habits *nd had advised him to mend his ways. ' Constable Dunlop, also stationed at 'Addington, said he had known defen- , dajit for years. He was a drunkard. Witness had on one occasion found defendant with a number of other drunkards in an empty house adjoining defendant's residence. They were drinking from a keg of beer and had a bottle of methylated spirits also, from which they were drinking. , Two female witnesses who lived near defendant also gave evidence as to his drunkenness, stating that he encourag<id men, including their husbands, to Wa place to go on the drink. He Aretrik methylated spirits. Defendant's wife appeared on his behalf, and asked that the order should not be granted, as ho had improved in his habits lately. i The Magistrate: That'll do. Stand ' io\m. ■ The Magistrate, to defendant: jSow, ' 'kave you got anything to sayp Defendant: Yes, your worship. Ever lince I've lived at Addington I've been 'persecuted by the police. ' The Magistrate: That'll do. Order jnade; to take effect for twelve months. . Defendant: Can't I appeal against that, your Worship? The Magistrate: Ko. Get out of the Court as soon as you like. Court stands adjourned.