ASHBURTON MAN TO PAY £30 FINE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19239, 28 November 1930, Page 8

ASHBURTON MAN TO PAY £3O FINE.

LIQUOR RAID SEQUEL HEARD BY MAGISTRATE. (Special to the “Star.”) ASHBURTON, November 2S. On a charge of selling beer to William Jackson and not being licensed to do so, Francis Joseph Ilanrahan, for whom Mr C. G. Drury appeared, pleaded guilty before Mr C. R- Orr-Walker, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Senior Sergeant Martin stated that premises used as a boarding house had been under police observation for about four months. A watch was kept over the house on a Sunday afternoon and during a period of four hours thirtythree persons were seen going and coming away quite openly with liquor. On another Sunday twenty people were seen, a number in cars. .V raid was made and twenty-eight bottles of beer, three of whisky and one of port wine were seized. Since that occasion another raid had been made and a charge was pending. Mr Drury objected to these statements as defendant had pleaded guilty to the only charge against him. Continuing, the Senior Sergeant stated that a number of complaints had been made regarding drunkenness in the locality. Mr Drury explained that facts showed that defendant was not a sly-grog merchant. He was acting as agent for a firm of wine and spirit merchants and was the victim of circumstances. Jackson had purchased three bottles of stout for his wife, who was ill. So far as liquor seized was concerned, this would be found in many houses beyond reproach in Ashburton. Hanrahan was fined £3O and an order was made for the confiscation of the liquor seized. Sent to Roto Roa. George N. Jackson Hughes, who appeared on remand for medical treatment on a charge of drunkenness, pleaded guilty. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order. He was convicted and ordered to Roto Roa Island for a term of twelve months. __________