THE TAUERU RAID

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11752, 9 February 1918, Page 5

THE TAUERU RAID

IN imESTINU CiWKT CASE

At the Mastorton Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr W. Kerr, S.M., Mary Owens. Elizabeth Patterson, Vera Berritli, Frank McKellar, Wilfred Hickson, .lames Ferguson, Bert, Kellihor, Michael

O'Brien, John O'Dowd, Alfred Congdon and William Taylor were charged with being on the Taueru Hotol promises on Sunday, February 3rd, during prohibited hours. Mr W. Noble said he appeared for all of the defendants. Taylor had not been nerved with a summons yefc. iMr Noble asked that the charges against the three ladies and McKollar, Hickson, Ferguson and Taylor be taken separately from the others. Tho position was that the police found these seven people on tho premises, whereas the other four arrived and found tho police on the premises. It was agreed to take tho charge against the seven defendants first, leaving the cases against O'Brien. Kellihcr, O'Dowd and Congdon till later.

In outlinging tho caso for the police, Sergeant Miller said that. Taylor is a farmer out tho Coast way, and was staying at the Club Hotel in Mastorton from the Wednesday previous. Three of the ladies concerned are servants nt tho Club Hotel. McKellar does shearing work, etc., and stays at the Club Hotel. Hickson, a returned soldier, «tays nt the Club, and had a bed there on Saturday night. Ferguson is a taxidriver, anil drove the party out. About 11 o'clock on Saturday night Ferguson was telephoned for and he took the party from the Club Hotel to Taueru. About 12.30 on Sunday morning, tho Sergeant and Constable Phillips went to the Taueru Hotel. Witness left Phillips at tho side door and went in through the kitchen. Ferguson was sifting in the bar with Mrs Oliver. Taylor was sitting on a conch in a room with a girl named Annie Hawke, from Palmorston. Miss Owens was playing a piano iii another room, with tho other two girls. The girls and Hickson and McKellar said they were going to stay all night. When the Sergeant returned to Mastorton he examined the books 'at the Club Hotel, and found Taylor and Hickson had beds there "for the Saturday night. About 7 o'clock on Sunday morning, witness saw tho car come from Taueru to the Club Hotel. The Sergeant went upstairs and found Taylor in his room packing a portmanteau. Tho bed had not been slept in. Hickson's bed-had not been slept in. There wore no bods at tho Taueru for the defendants when "t'hey went there, and it was .ridiculous to say that the reasons given by defendants* for being at the Taueru with the girls, who had to work next day, wOrei legitimate ones. Constable Phillips and Sergeant Miller gave evidence on the lines of tho' opening address, and were crossexamined at some length by Mr Noble. Thomas C;"iss, clerk at the Club Hotel, said the threo ladies concerned were employed at tho hotel. They were at the hotel at 10 p.m. on Saturday, and would be required for duty at 7 a.m. on Sunday. William Taylor had occupied a room in the hotel from the previous Tuesday to tho Sunday morning. Hickson arrived on the Saturday afternoon and booked a bedroom for tho Saturday night. Ho left on Sunday. McKellar also hooked a room for Saturday night, and is still at the hotel. Mr Noble: Have you over known men to book beds and then not occupy them —Yes; sometimes. Can you swear whether Hickson, Taylor or McKellar slept at the Club that night?—l could not say, as I go home at night.

His Worship: Did you know the girls wero away that might?— No. Where did you expect them to be? —ln bed.

Mr Noble: You know those girls; what sort of character have they?— So far as I know they are well behaved and have good characters. I suppose every girl who comes to work thoro has to have a reference ? I couldn't say; I am not the proprietor.

For the defence, Frank McKellar, labourer, of Masterton, stated that ho -was at the Taueru Hotel on the night of Saturday, February 2nd. He arranged a party to go out and the taxi-driver engaged was told the party was mot returning. They left Masterton at about 10.30 o'clock. There were five in the party. On arrival at the Mrs Oliver was aukotl if she could accommodate them for the night. There, were, three girls from the Club Hotel and a man named Hickson. Mrs Oliver gave them the rooms. Witness and Hickson slept in the one room, and left for iMasterton next morning at (5.20 o'clock. The Sergeant never said a word on entering. Witness remained in the room with others. Constable Phillipß then took their names. Mary Owens asked the constable if it was necessary for her to give her full name. The constable said, "That will be all right; you can duck away as soon as wo have gone." The girl said it did not matter, as she was staying for the night. By the Sergeant: He had a bed booked at Ihe Club Hotel for Saturday night, having arrived from Falmerston that afternoon. He was an hour at the hotel before the police arrived, and was about to retire, Taylor was not one of their party. One of the reasons for going out was that Hickson wished to see 'Mrs Oliver before going to Wellington. 11 < (witness) w as classed C2 by Ihe Medical Hoard.

By His Worship: He told Airs Oliver on arrival that heds were wanle<l for six. The girls quite understood that they were, to slay for the night. When the police arrived the party was nailing to be shown to their rooms. Wilfred llickson, a returned soldier, who said he \\ as on furlough from England, stated that In* booked a bed at the. Club Hotel on .Saturday night. lie knew nothing of the party till about 1.0 o'clock, wheal he suggested to McTCclhir that he would like to see Mrs Oliver before, returning to Wellington. It was quite understood before leaving that the party should remain at the Tuuoni for tlie

night. One of the girls was playing the piano when the police arrived, lie heard one of the girls (ell Constable Phillips that eho was staying for the night. By the Sergeant: He went away with the Main Body, but had never been wounded. Ho was in tho firing line, in Franco for sixteen months. On arrival at the hotel he asked for a bed, and was told that, he could act one. He had no drink at the hotel, Mary Owens, waitress, employed nt tho t'lub Hotel, said that McKellar proposed tho trip to Taueru. She finished her duties that night at about 8 o'clock. Knowing Mrs Oliver, tltc.y all agreed to slay for tho night. The taxi-driver knew tho arrangements. She got a very conifer fa bio bed at the Taueru that night, the three girls occupying this one. room. She did not know tho Sergeant, and when ho entered she. thought he was a farmer staying for the night. She continued playing tho piano softly in a dim light. She haxl a nick-name, and that was the reason she asked the, constable if sho should give her correct name. By tho .Sergeant: The first idea of the party was to go for a joy ride, but Hickson suggested they should go to tho Taueru. Tiny did not know what room they were to occupy until tho Sergeant left. She had nob been out to the Taueru of a night before. She made occasional afternoon calls. She had no refreshments at tho hotel. She did not tell the proprietor of the Club Hotel that she was going to stay for the might. Vera Berritti a releiving maid, employed at the Club Hotel, stated that McKellar invited her to go to the Taueru, She knew Mrs Oliver well. When tho party started it was quite understood they should stay at the Taueru for tho night. It was not necessary for them to be on duty till 7 o'clock on Sunday morning. By the Sergeant: She did not know who turned down tho light in the room in which there were two men and three girls. One of the girls was playing the piano. Elizabeth Patterson, waitress, employed at the Club Hole), stated that nlie went to the Taueru at the invitation of McKellar. 11. was quite understood they should all stay for the night.

By the. Sergeant: She was nearly 20 years of age. She was never near the bar and'did not parfa.ko of any refreshments. She had not previously stayed at the house of an evening. The glasses were on the table when they arrived.

Thora Oliver, wife of the licensee of Tauern Hotel, stated that the parly arrived at the house in Ferguson's car at about 11 o'clock. McKellar asked her for six beds and the names were placed in the book before the Sergeant arrived. The names of two others were also in the book. The house could accommodate twelve upstairs. She had the bar open for the purpose of doing some writing. Ferguson walked in to get tho number of his bed and quietly picked up a paper and commenced to rea/d. She was serving no liquor. By the Sergeant: She was just about to leave the bar when he. (the Sergeant) arrived. She never directed the party to their rooms until after the police arrived. It was not necessary for her to do so.

Tlie other cases, in which four Mastorton residents wove charged with being found on licensed premises, wore at this stage proceeded with.

Mr Noble, on behalf of defendants, pleaded not guilty. Constable Phillips "stated that after he and the Sergeant left the hotel they saw another car approach and pull up alongside Ferguson's ear. The men were O'Briem, Kelliher, O'Dowd and Congdon. They entered the hotel and the police followed. The Sergeant asked them their business and one stated they were staying for the night. Tho Sergeant then asked Mrs Oliver where' the men wero going to sleep, a 6 there did not appear to bo much room for accommodation. Mrs Oliver took them upstairs and showed them one double room only. By Mr Noble: The har was not open wliou the Sergeant and he arrived the second time.

Sergeant Millor stated that the evidence so far given as to liquor beiijg exposed for sale applied to the ease against Oliver, lie detailed the arrival of the second car. Kelliher said he was staying for the night. On Id's (witness's) suggestion that there was no accommodation available, Kelliher said he would go on to Whakataki. The door opening into the bar parlour was.closed. He asked Mrs Oliver where tho people were all going to sleep. She took them upstairs and showed them a room with a double bed. He opened the door of another room and found two persons sleeping there. O'Powd stated, in reply to fl , question, that he had .iust come of military age. By Mr Noble: He had'probably boon out of the hotel less than five minutes. The four men, if knowing the police were, about, did not. have time to leave before he appeared o« the scene.

Constable Phillips, recalled, staled that after arriving from Taueru, he rang up Mrs Kelliher, who said she had ex pec Led her husband home at 7 o'clock.

Mr Noble: Tt will probably surprise you to know that Mrs Kelliher was away at Gisborne.

At this stage the case wn K adjourned |ill !),;jo o'clock this morning.