Accepted Watch As Pledge For Beer: Publican Fined

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 14, 1 November 1948, Page 6

Accepted Watch As Pledge For Beer: Publican Fined

An unusual charge, that of receiving a wrist-watch as a pledge for liquor sold, was preferred against the licensee of the Federal Hotel, Wanganui, * John e Joseph Burke, in the Magistrate’s Court last week. He pleaded guilty. He also pleaded guilty to selling liquor after hours. Senior-Sergeant Culloty said a man visited the hotel in company with another who stayed outside. The first man went into the hotel to buy liquor. Not having enough money to pay for it, he pledged his friend’s wrist-watch to guarantee the cost of the liquor. The senior-sergeant said h# had never struck such a charge before. The magistrate, Mr Salmon, S.M., said it was a serious matter, pointing out that Burke had been convicted nine times since August, 1947. He imposed a fine of £ls with costs. “Has the licensed trade sunk so low that it .must accept payments of this sort.for liquor .sold after honrs,” observed Mr Salmon. On the pledge charge Burke was fined £5 with 10s costs.