Sly Grog-Selling.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11733, 10 September 1902, Page 2

Sly Grog-Selling.

DUNEDIN EATING-HOUSES RAIDED

. "Evening Star," Dunedin. It has long been suspected by the police thao liquor was commonly sold at a number of eating-houses in Dunedin, but they have been hindered from bringing the suspects to justice. The chief obstacle has been thai voluntary information is only on t<he rarest occasions obtainable from civilians who know of such illegal practices;, for the public mind is grossly immoral in x'espect to the liquor laws, and when the law is contravened on their behalf they remain more secret than the grave. Another obstacle in the way of securing information is the extreme caution adopted by the illicit sellers of liquor, who will never dispose of it to

anyone they do not Know. The most original—occasionally the most desperate— stratagems have been adopted to detect the sly grog-seller, who, however, in the great majority of cases manage® to escape the meshes of the law. The police appear to have at last caught some of these unlicensed persons napping, and a prosecution is to follow on what appears to have been a smart and successful raid. Three recruits from the training depot at Wellington landed in Dunedin on Saturday night, and two? of them were at once utilised in the special service of catching the wily sly grog-sellers. yOn Sunday they were fitted out in khaki uniforms and sent out to pose as returned troopers. They wei-e bronzed, athletic men, having the tan and bearing that military service under a fierce sun is expected to give, and the deception was complete. As them- were not real1 contingenters and knew nothing more than hearsay about the war, the regimental numbers were taken off their clothesi but even without these trappings the ruse was successful. The persons looked in upon wern probably weary of war tales,5 * and never asked the pseudo troopers about the battles they fought in, or perhaps their imaginations helped them out. Forth sallied the $>air, armed with stick and swagger, and in they sauntered to some selected houses where the cup that cheers and inebriates was believed to be available sub rosa. In three places they were successful. They had some amusing adventures, but the best was an encounter'with one landlady. It is a striking sidelight on a- matter which was actively discussed by our correspondents some time ago. The alleged troopers nonchalantly wandered into the room, and after feeling their wav gently, inquired of the good lady whether they "could have a drink." "Well," said the worthy dame, reflectively, "it's just possible. But, you know,- we have to be very careful of that sub-inspector, whom the ipublicans are shoving out of here. If he were to hear that we sold liquor, he would be on our track at once." The troopers were duly sympathetic. "Aye," said one, "they tell me he's a bad lot—absoltutel- no .class. He wants rooting out of here." This seemed to have lulled the dormant! suspicions of the landlady, and beer was soon forthcoming. TJie same thing happened at the other two houses, for the confiding hosts never dreamt of suspecting the bibulous troopers of being other than genuine. With this information at their backs, the police resolved on immediate action, and to-day descended on the three houses simultaneously. At one j they got a barrel of beer three-quarters full; at the second they obtained some halfdozen bottles of beer; and at the third they ar>r»arently drew a blank, for there was no liquor available or to be discovered anywhere. Informations' will be laid in due course, and the cases will come before the Stipendiary Magistrate in a few days' time. ■- I [The sub-inspector referred to is Sub-' Inspector Dwyer, late sergeant at Wanganui.l