"A FAIR COP."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18904, 20 January 1927, Page 14

"A FAIR COP."

—■ —♦ PUBLICAN CONVICTED. LIQUOR AFTER HOURS. The licensee of the King George Hotel, John Coffey, pleaded guilty in the Lower Court yesterday morning, before Mr H. P. Lowry, S.M., to charges of baring sold liquor after hours and having failed to admit the police when they knocked on his door on the night of December 10th. "This is a case, your Worship, which I would describe as being 'a far cop'," said Mr C. S. Thomas, Coffey's solicitor. "He was fairly caught." Explaining the case to the Bench, Sub-Inspector J. M. Mathew told how the police went along to the King George Hotel on the night of the tenth of last month, and how the door of the hotel was not opened in answer to their demands. "There was a chair across the door," ho said, "and the police had to force their way into the place. Liquor was being supplied. The hotel has been giving the police a lot of trouble."

"But you've never prosecuted him before," Mr Lawry remarked. "No; we couldn't catch him." "Then I can't take that into consideration," his Worship replied. Having described the case as "a fair cop," Mr Thomas went on to say that Coffey was a well-known sport—and sporting publican. "And on this day," counsel said, "there had_ been, I am told, some sporting function; and five or six men afterwards went to the King George to carry on the good work. Then the police came." There was no special feature about the door, or its fastening, added counsel. However, there were men inside and the licensee was prepared to take the consequences. Ho contended that this case was different to others.. In some cases," ho said, "disreputable defences are put up. But this is different. It is not a case in which any Dick, Tom, or Harry comes off the street, and gets into the hotel. The men in this case were not like those, but thev vere men to whom publicity meant a lot.' Coffey had not pieviously been convicted. . "Your Worship will take no notice of the offences mentioned by the Subrnweitcrf" eomvl EEkeJ. His Worship: They were not offences. _ , . ■ . „„ . Mr Thomas: Just so, 3 ust so - . , His Worship (smiling): They're just suspicions. ' For selling liquor, Coffey was convicted and fined £lO and costs, and £2 and costs for failing to admit the officers of the law. °Th barman, William O'Loughlin was convicted and fined £3 for_ se Img liquor, he being a person other than the licensee.

Other Men Pined. Silas McAlister arfd James Patrick McSkfy and George Watson were charged, with having been found on th« hotel premises after hours. and McCluskey were each .onvkted and fined £1 and costs, while Sona second offender, was hned £2 and costs.