LEGAL & MAGISTERIAL NOTES

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 528, 6 September 1900, Page 19

LEGAL & MAGISTERIAL NOTES

A prohibited person was recently fined in the Christchurch police court for having entered an hotel during the currency of a prohibition order. The Magistrate remarked that there was no excuse for that kind of offence.

At the Waihi Magistrate’s Court, before Mr Bush, S M., a charge of sly grog-selling at Wharekawa, near Whangamata, was made against Edward Donnelly. Sergeant Brennan prosecuted. Mr Clendon appeared for defendant. Numerous Austrians appeared as witnesses for the prosecution. Defendant was advised to plead guilty, which he did, and was fined £5 and costs. £23. . He was given one month to pay.

.. At the Magistrate’s Court, Oxford, in Canterbury, Thomas Watson, for a breach of the Licensing Act, was fined 20s and costs. It appeared from the evidence that the members of a shooting party needed luncheon on Sunday and were supplied at the Working Men’s Club, and the lun- ■■ eheon, included liquor. Mr Watson consented to < collect a certain sum from each member of the party, to make up the price of the luncheon. The police took action, and secured a conviction, as stated.

For failure to admit the police, Peter Keller, the licensee of the Grosvener Hotel, appeared before the Christchurch Bench. Mr Kippenberger appeared for the defendant. Sergeant Rogers stated that about 11.30 on August 3rd, he and Constable Trahey had visited the Grosvenor Hotel. They heard talking and jingling of glasses inside. They demanded admittance, but were not admitted for three and a-half minutes, when the defendant opened the door. There was a light in the room adjoining the bar. The defendant stated that people sometimes assaulted the licensee. Two men had been thrown out that evening for the same conduct. The Magistrate said there must never be delay m admitting the police. When there was, then the licensees must suffer. Defendant would be fined 10s.

Some little stir is being raised in New Ply • mouth over the reported proposal of certain parties to apply for a new license in the town. It is reported that a gentleman has purchased the Village Inn at Bell B’ock, and that this license will be allowed to lapse, and a license applied for a house to be erected on a site opposite the New Plymouth Railway Station. The New Plymouth publicans are up in er ms against the proposal, and the prohibitionists are also dead against the introduction of a fresh pub. We shall, therefore, probably witness the unique spectacle of the gublioans and prohibitionists allying forces, and ghting the invasion of a new pub. Such a hotel, as proposed, would seriously effect the Terminus and Taranaki Hotels, and, as the proprietors of these have given large sums for the properties, they are naturally considerably concerned over the proposed new pub. So far no definite step, beyond the purchase of the Village Itm at Bell Block, has taken place, but when a move is made in the direction of New Plymouth, the local publicans and prohibitionists no doubt will unfurl their banners, sound the loud toscin, and gird up their proportions for the fray. (Taranaki Correspondent).

At the Police Court on the 27th of last month, before Mr H. W. Brabant, S.M , Isabella Millanta was charged on four informations with selling intoxicating liquor without having a license to do so Defendant, an Italian, kept an oyster saloon in Wellesley-street West, which Constable Mitchell and Walter Williams visited in plain clothes on Sunday night, 12th inst. They deposed that they had supper there, and defendant sold them drinks, bringing the bcttles from the front shop. Sergeants Gordon and Forbes gave evidence with regard to the first two witnesses’ visit to- the shop on the Sunday night, they having been watching from outside by arrangement. For the defence defendant called her two daughters and a neighbour to show that Mitchell visited the saloon twice, with a different man each time, once on a Saturday night (11th inst) and again on the Wednesday night. The girls denied that Mitchell had been there on the Sunday at all, and stated that the drinks supplied to Mitchell and his companion on the Saturday -night were bought for them at the Shamrock Hotel. His Worship recorded a conviction on all four charges, and dt fendant was fined £5 and costs on each of three charges- and £lO and costs on the fourth. The costs totalled £2 4s

At the Wellington Police Court, before Mr WR. Haselden, S.M, last Friday, Mary Richards was charged with having sold liquor to Proba-bationer-Constable Hancox, she not being the holder of a license authorising her so to do. Hancox gave evidence that on a recent Sunday evening he went to the house of the accused, and remained there for over half-an-hour. He was asked to “shout” by accused. He handed her a one-pound note, which had been torn in two. She went into an adjoining room, and brought out a bottle of liquid, which he believed to be beer. He and a young man named Robin and the accused partook of it. Archie Robin gave evidence that he accompanied Hancox to le house of accused, and there partook of the liquor. He reckoned it was beer—he knew the taste of such liquor. He saw Hancox hand over a pound note on payment and receive change from accused He subsequently treated them again. Mr Wilford urged that the police had failed to establish their case. He animadverted upon the action of the detectives in procuring a civilian to assist the police. Mr Haselden fined •defendant £4O, with 17s costs, in default levy and distress. Mr Wilford gave notice of appeal.

At the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court, Alfred Prior was charged with, on August 1, at his licensed premises of the Oxford Hotel, having failed to admit Sergeant Rogers, a police officer, in the execution of his duty, without unnecessary delay. Mr Kippenberger appeared for the defendant. Sergeant Rogers stated that about 11.20 p ro., on August 1, he saw a light in the public bar of the Oxford Hotel, and heard voices inside. He went to the front door and found it locked. Constable Tral ey, who accompanied witness, knocked at the door, and after about a minute’s delay a man asked, “ Who’s there ?” Witness replied that it was the police, and demanded admittance The man inside then went away and did not return for about 30sec, when the door was opened. Witness asked why he had not been admitted before, and he was told that people frequently knock. at hotel doors and say “ Police ” to gain admittance and drink. Witness found the door of the private bar closed, but not locked. There was no light there then. The slide of the public bar door was open. Mr Kippengerger contended that there was no unnecessary delay, and the defendant, who was ill in bed at the time, had given orders that no one was to be adngitted after hours without his sanction, and, therefore, the small delay was caused. Hie Worship said he would convict on principle, and fined the defendant 10s, saying there would be no endorsement of the license.