“FIRE-WATER” WINE.

Waikato Times, Volume 115, Issue 19272, 2 June 1934, Page 6

“FIRE-WATER” WINE.

NO USE TO THE POLICE. SOLD WITHOUT LICENCE. RECEIVED STOLEN GENERATOR. Charged with selling wine without a licence and with, receiving an electric generator valued at £3 knowing it to have been dishonestly obtained, Arthur Leslie Goodall (17) appeared before Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., in the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court this morning. The case was referred back from the Children’s Court. On behalf of the accused Mr D. Seymour entered pleas of not guilty to both charges. Senior-Sergeant J. J. Power stated that the accused obtained a consignment of wine from a Te Kauwhata man and hawked it about the countryside in an old car owned by his mother. He was interviewed by Constable Callaghan on April 2 and admitted taking several bottles of wine to a dance at the Frankton Town Hall and selling it for 2s and 2s 6d a bottle. He was found ot the Leamington Town Ilall, in company with other young men on March 31, with 25 bottles of wine, and he admitted that he would have attempted to sell it had they not been arrested by the Cambridge police on other charges. Goodall and his companions had consumed a good deal of wine from a large jar.

Admitted Selling Wine.

•Constable Callaghan read a statement in which Goodall admitted selling the wine at Frankton without a licence.

George Robert Ritchie, employed at Thomas’ spare-parts car garage, Frankton, said he assisted to install in Goodall’s car, a generator taken from his employer’s stock. Goodall was not asked to pay for it. Witness admitted that he was dealt with for theft i?f a generator.

To Mr Seymour, witness said he only lent 'Goodall the generator temporarily and intended replacing it. Another statement by the accused was read by Constable Callaghan, in which Goodall said Ritchie told him “ to keep quiet ” about the generator when it was fitted in the car. , Mr Seymour said Goodall was authorised by a vendor to sell fruit and wine about the countryside. He was not aware that it was necessary to have a licence. Counsel submitted there was no case to answer regarding the charge of receiving. Neither Ritchie’s evidence nor the statements read disclosed a guilty mind on Goodall’s part. The magistrate held that the statement made by the accused to the effect that Ritchie told him “ to keep it quiet ” diclosed a guilty mind. Placed on Probation. After hearing Goodail’s account of the affair, Mr Paterson convicted him and placed him on probation for two years. Mr Paterson: Do you want an order for possession of the wine? Senior-Sergeant Power: No, thanks, Your Worship. It Is practically firewater. We don’t want it. We wouldn’t use it as disinfectant.’*