THE LIQUOR LAWS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5563, 19 February 1897, Page 3

THE LIQUOR LAWS.

—-* ILLEGALLY ON LICENSED l'ltEJlISES.

At Mnsterton this morning before ilf Haselden, S.M., George Jackson,

a prohibited person, was charged with being on licensed premises ou Saturday, February 18th. \lr C. A. Powtnill appeared for dclendant.

The order of prohibition was ml nitted.

Harry Cole, manager of the Empiie Hotel, gave evidence that the accused was in the courtyard, The man had the appearance of having been drinking. He told liiiu to go away. To Air Powuall: Accused was indignant and stated be had been to see his brother-in-law in Keebles stables at the back of the hotel. The stables were leased to „Vr Keeble. Accused did not attempt to enter the hotel or ask for liquor. Constable Molt'alt gave evidence that on the date ill question he saw accused enter the Empire Hotel rigbt-of-'.vay. Accused was there about live minutes. When the man came out he was excited aud gave witness the impression he had been

[linking To Mi- Pownall; Could-not say vhetlier ur not accused iriuil to outer lie hotel.

Sergeant Iviely gave evidence that hi llii! date in quest-ion at 7.30 p.m., lis suspicions being aroused ho Pitched accused, who wont into the iuipiro Hotel yard. There was a ide-door in the yard leading to the iar. The man apparently mailo for his door, but Dole seeing himself

(the Sergeant) went towards the man and said "get away out of this." Jackson came out in n very excited slate ami said " Are you dogging me." Accused further said lie wouldn't be dogged by the the police; he would make it warm for him (Sergeant Kiely) before he left the town; "he was Jackson, and would let them know it."

Samuel Pinkertou gave evidence that he saw accused on the dale in question; the man was excited, and witness thought ho may have bad a ghiss. Me Pownnll said it was a question whether the court-yard was licensed premises. Ho did nut wish to draw a too narrow limitation but thought that in the present case, where part of the premises (the stables) were kept by another man who merely paid rent to the landlord, it was drawing it rather too line to charge accused with being on licensed premises. Accused had not endeavored to obtain liquor but been to see bis brother-in-law. Cole, seeing the police, was over-anxious in ordering jackson oft' the premises and being an excitable man accused became much annoyed. Sergeant Kiely said according to Mr Pownall ut prohibited man ought to be able to go and see his brother-in-law if be was a barman. .

Mr Pownall said not so; he wished to bo reasonable. He thought the impression of the Bench ought to be distinctly that the prohibited person was loitering about for the purpose of obtaining liquor, otherwise he thought the Bench ought not to convict.

Accused put in the box on oath stated he went to sec the proprietor of the stables on business. He could conscientiously say he had taken not a teaspoonful of drink on the evening in question, He was of an escitable nature. Since the order was issued against him he had been a straight man and had not tonched liquor,

To Sergeant Kiely : He had not torn the paper off the walls of a house while tinder the inlluence of liquor, lie had not returned drunk from Carterton on a recent Sunday ; he had not got drunk on the Mastei. ton Race Day. His Worship said he was going to give accused another chance. Technically he (Jackson) was on licensed premises, but not in the part of the bouso where liquor might bo obtained. He bad his doubts about witness' story but would give liitii the benefit of the doubt, warning him not to be found on any part of any licensed premises in future. The order had been taken out against accused not to punish him byt to protect him from himself. There ?vas iiQt sufficient evidence that- the order bad beep broken, but lie (Mr IlaEelden) had hisdoiibls. Tho case would therefore be dismissed.