AFTER HOURS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16434, 24 May 1921, Page 8

AFTER HOURS.

EMPIRE HOTEL VISITED. " In all these hotel cases the defendant starts off fifty yards behind scratch," said Mr G. Thomas, when appearing at the Magistrate’s Court tills morning on behalf of Frederick William Bolt, who was charged with having been on the licensed premises of the Empire Hotel after hours on the evening of May 3. The defendant pleaded not guilty. A similar charge was preferred against Walter East, John Harry East, Thomas Edward Kinselln, Clarence Landrev, David Thomas Wood field and Thomas Winteringham. Tho charge against Bolt was taken, first. Inspector Henarey said that on Mav 3, about 6.30 p.m., a police sergeant was passing along the right-of-way at the back of the Empire Hotel. He heard footsteps approaching th*» back door. A porter opened the door, but when he saw the sergeant in uniform, he nttemnted to close it. This he was prevented from doing, and on the sergeant entering he found five men behind the door with the porter. The sergeant; then went to the bar. Here he found seven men. The bar was lighted, and the barman r.as behind the counter in the act of pushing a glass of liquor towards one of the men. When he saw the sergeant he tioped the liouor out. 3he names of all the men found on the premises wore taken. Bolt said he was there for dinner. However, tho dining-room was upstairs and dinner was on at 6 o’clock. Defendant was fennd in the bar at 0.30. The Court at this stage adjourned for the purpose of paying a visit of inspection io the hotel. Sergeant Roach gave evidence on the lines of the inspector's opening. Mr rtiom-.y: rommpnte-T on rto 'Wt that. +l,O constable, who was with the sergeant on the evening in question, was not called. Mr' Thomas said that whenever a man was found on licenced premises niter hours, unless he had staved at the hotel for six months or a year, it was assumed that he was there for illegal purposes. All the men charged were respectable, citizens, and he asked the Magistrate to believe the reasons they would give for being on the premises after hours- On the evening in cjucrtion Bolt went to the Eirmiye Hotel for dinner. Dinner was late that night, and Bolt and the other defendants ! went into tho liar whilst t-her mire j waiting, because it. was warmer there, j The dinner gong went just before the | police came in. The police took so long to make investigations and take notes that defendant was unable to have dinner, as he had to see a sister off to | Wellington at 6.55. He had no drink whilst in the bar after six o’clock, and he paw no one else having nnv liquor. Bolt gave evidence on the lines of counsel’;* opening. The Magistrate held that defendant’s excuse was not Pensionable. A fine of £1 and costs was inflicted.