PROHIBITED PERSONS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 310, 2 July 1896, Page 10

PROHIBITED PERSONS.

J. Watson pleaded guilty at the Wanganui Magistrate’s Court to a charge of being illegally on licensed premises (the Rutland Hotel), he being a prohibited person. Accused said he thought the order had run out. Mr C. 0. Kettle, S.M., who occupied the Bench, said it was clear that accused had been in the hotel for the purpose of obtaining liquor, and he must have known that he was a prohibited person. The provisions of the Act, under which Watson was charged, were put in for the protection of hotelkeepers. It was very difficult for those who did not know prohibited persons by sight to identify them, and hoteleeepers might commit a breach of the law unwittingly by supplying such with drink. Accused asked if he could not go to an hotel on business or work at an hotel. His Worship replied that a prohibited person was not, under any circumstances, allowed in an hotel. It was one of the disabilities and punishments they had to labour under, and though in some cases it may be a hardship, it was their own fault. As it was the first case of the kind against Watson, he would be fined 20s and 13s costs; in default 14 days’ imprisonment. Watson asked for time to pay, and went to his wife, who was in Court, and asked if she could pay the fine. Mrs Watson refused to have anything to do in the matter, and said, “ It is only punishing me, Your Worship; I have been punished enough already.” His Worship said Mrs Watson was quite right in not giving away her own hard earnings. Accused was allow'ed a week to pay.— Yeoman.