SLY GROG-SELLING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10755, 29 April 1913, Page 3

SLY GROG-SELLING.

WHISKY IN GINGER-BEER BOTTLES. Mrs Phillipson, a middle-aged woman, was charged at the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., that on April 20 not being a person exempted by the Licensing Act 1908 from requiring a license to sell liquor and not being licensed so to do did unlawfully sell liquor, namely whisky, to one James Hyslop. The defendant pleaded not guilty and was not represented by counsel. Constable Hyslop gave evidence as to having purchased whisky from the defendant on Sunday night, April 20. The defendant kept a small fruiterer's shop, and in company with Constable Ryan witness went and purchased whisky from her. He gave her five shillings, and she went to the rear of the shop and brought back a stone ginger-beer bottle containing whisky. Several ginger-beer bottles containing whisky which had been brought from defendant's place were produced. "It is dear whisky at five shillings for one of those bottles," remarked the Magistrate. The defendant denied the charge. She stated she had never sold any liquor, and had not received os for a ginger-beer bottle full. The Magistrate stated that it had been clearly proved that she had sold the liquor. The Chief Detective stated that the defendant had six children, the eldest nine years and the youngest six months. They were practically starving, and the defendant had no means of subsistence. Mr H. W. Bishop: Ido not know what to do with her. It is a very serious charge, but what is the use of inflicting a penalty? There would be trouble, he stated, if people imagined that they could escape a penalty for such an offence. The defendant would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence in four weeks. '•'Tf you behave yourself," said the Magistrate, "very likely I'll do no-i-h&un to you at all."