COURT CASES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 933, 23 January 1908, Page 21

COURT CASES.

At the sitting of the. Magistrate’s Court last Thursday, at the Thames, William Rogers, licensee of he Pacific Hotel, was charged with breaches of the Licensing Act on three different counts, viz., with allowing liquor to be consumed on his licensed premises after closing hours, exposing liquor for sale during the same hours, and with keeping open for the sale of liquor after closing hours. Mr Clendon appeared for the licensee, who pleaded not gui ty. Police Inspector Kelly stated that on the night of December 19 the hotel was visited by the police at 10.18 p.m., and they found three young men playing cards in a small room, the door of the hotel being open at the time. The defendant was present in the room, and stated to the police that the men were waiting to finish a game of cards, and that certain glasses of liquor which were standing in the room had been supp ied before to o’clock. Mr C endon, for the defendant, contended that no offence under the Act had been shown, as the eviwas

dence went to show that no liquor exposed for sale, as the bar itself was closed and no liquor could be seen by any person, and with regard to the door being open it was on y a private door that was open at he time, and one not genera'ly in use, the public entrance being closed. Evidence was given for the defence by the licensee and Messrs J. Meehan, L. Farrelly, and F. Tasker, who deposed that the time at which the police visited the hotel on the night in question was 10.10 o’clock, that a private door had been inadvertently left open, and that the bar was closed. They acknowledged being in the room finishing a game of cards, but stated that the drink which was there had been brought in before closing time. His Worship held hat the charge of allowing liquor to be consumed on the premises after hours had been proved, and recorded ’a conviction, inflicting a fine of 40s and costs, and the other charges were dismissed. Messrs J. Meehan, L. Farrelly, and F. Tasker were charged with being on li-

censed premises of the Pacific Hotel after closing hours, and were convicted and fined ios each, with costs, as was also G. Fisher on a similar charge relating to the Exchange Hotel.