CABBAGE FOR BEER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 662, 6 November 1902, Page 21

CABBAGE FOR BEER.

The London “ L.V. Gazette ” recently reports a rather novel case in connection with the opening of licensed premises during prohibited hours is reported from Maidstone. It appears that on Saturday, August 30, the landlady informed an old customer, who hacl an allotment garden near by, that her greengrocer had not called that day, whereupon he offered to bring her some vegetables on the following Sunday morning. He did so, Hit a s he tapped at the door of the tavern he was “ spotted ” by an officer in blue, who folloxved him in and found him drinking a glass of beer. A summons followed, and the defence was that the beer was a gift, that no money passed, and that there was nothing- in the nature of a transaction. The man who brought the onions, beans, and cabbage, .hoxvever, spoilt this defence by admitting that the landladv had promised him a pint of beer. “ Then you gave her a cabbage and she gave you the beer, is that it ?” asked the Magistrate. “Yes, sir,” was the reply. A fine of 26s and 13s costs was imposed, the license not to be endorsed.