SUNDAY WHISKIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19986, 29 June 1920, Page 7

SUNDAY WHISKIES.

A POLICEMAN’S PURCHASES

CHRISTCHURCH MAORI CHARGED.

Several Maoris attended the Christeuirch Magistrate's Court this morngi aomg interested, apparently, in tho case in which one of their* compat i lots, Henry Wakefield (Air whomas* was charged with selliue jiquor without being licensed. t Constab e Arthur Bell said that on iMinclay, Juno b last, at about lO.dll a.ni. ho was in accused's shop In Tuam K-freet, artti noticed a strange man there, who asked fur a wltiskv, which was supplied by Wakefield, the other tendering a com in payment. Matness then ashed or two whiskies, ono for, himself and the other for ono who was null luin. and paid 2s. About ten minutes later, he ordered two more m ho.kies, tendering a i'i note. AVakcliekl gavo uni tlw whiskies and IBs change. Some time afterwards witness asked lor more whisky, hut AYakehe d said that it was cm out, but if n lines,; returned later there would he soi"e more m. LV left tho shop but returned an hour later, and asked for more whisky. Wakefield wont to the I l J!. , c shop, rein ruing with a bottle of D.C.L. whisky, containing a sma l quantity only. ‘ Witness paid or t\\o dnn.vk, :nul shortly afterwards :>Aked for more, but was told it wa*4 rut out. Wakefield olfered to get inore, M lines; asked him to get a bottle, and was tohl it would cost £l. " {tness paid over a I.os nolo and four im t-croiyns, one being marked. Wakeie d left tho shop, returned about hlteen minutes later, and handed over a bottle of whisky and a corkscrew. A itnoc'S drew the cork, ami gave three men m tho shop a nip each. io Air Thomas: Ho could not hold any more, so gave his drink to one of tlio others Ho did not, know the man who wont with him. Ho picked him tip as a likely specimen to kid to. hut had not seen him since. Ho had not tho faintest idea whom tfio accused got tho liquor from. Sergeant King gave evidence ns to supplying Constable Bell with tho ten shilling note and four hail-crowns, and instructing him to purchase whisky at M a Icefield’a shop. After Bell's' return, witness and four other constables visited the shop, and saw the accused, who denied having seen Bell before, or having sold him whisky. Witness began a, search of the- premises. Wakefield declared that a. warrant was nebut witness explained that be was acting under the War Regulations powers, and no warrant was required. On the table, witness found a bottle of whisky, partly hidden by accused’s wife and daughter. Mrs ' Wakefield said, ‘'Don’t take- that, it is ray medicine.” Witness replied: “Yes', judging by the number of people who come hero, it is a medicine for a good many.” "Witness also found four empty whisky bottles. Ho asked Wakefield to turn out bis pockets, and ho did so, producing from his hip pocket a handful of silver, including the marked half-crown. To Air Thomas: Witness had a pretty good senso of smell, and could tell if a liotilo bad contained whisky or brandy. AVhen Constable Bell returned to the watch-house that day, be was showing no sign of being under the influence of whisky. Witness did not remember one of the children at Wakefield’s saying that the bottles had been collected to sell. He was satisfied with the haul. This closed the case for the police. Air Thomas said that the defence would ho that Wakefield acted solely as » messenger to get the bottlo of whisky ordered by Constable Bell. It was not illegal to be a messenger for that purpose.' Accused would deny having sold flic constable the other drinks. Counsel commented on tho absence from the Court of the companion of Constable Bell.

Defendant, giving evidence, said that Constable 801 l gave him ‘l2s Gd for a bottle of whisky, and witness- went out ami got, it. When ho returned he gave it to Bell, who asked for a corkscrew. Prior to that time witness had not sold him any whisky, and made no profit on the holtle obtained. He did not run a sly grog-shop. To Sub-Inspector Dew: Bell had been in the shop on previous occasions. He had got the bottle of whisky for Bell to get rid of him. It was his good nature. Charles Muusey, living at Ilalswoll, said that ho was in Wakefield’s shop on the date referred to. Two men were already there. A bottio of whisky was on the counter, and one of the men pulled the cork, and gave drinks round. It may have been brandy, it was certainly spirits; not water. Ho had a bottio of hop ale. There was no strange work about it. Tlie door was open. Tho Magistrate said that in his opinion the police had failed to substantiate tho case, despite tho marked half, crown, and it took them no further than that defendant had acted as a messenger for the bottle of whisky. Ho did not disbelieve the police evidence, but corroboration was lacking. Tho ease would bo dismissed, but Mr Thomas had better tell his client that he had a, providential escape. Tho whisky and tho marked halfcrown were declared to he tho property of the defendant.