LAW REPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2445, 26 April 1915, Page 9

LAW REPORTS.

SUPREME COURT

FINE DISTINCTIONS IN LIQUOR CA!

SHARPSHOOTER FINED

In the Supreme Court on Saturday Mr. Justice Cooper heard argument on an appeal from the decision of Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., in convicting John Ernest Kidner Under Section 196 of the Licensing Act of being the occupier of house No. 14 Holland Street, from which a salo of liquor took place on March 7. Section 196 provides that occupiers of unlicensed premises are liable to penalty if it is proved that they have been privy to, or a. consenting party to. the sale.- I

The evidence was that a maji named Williamson had sold the liquor to two n"ce constables, and that though they made the purcha.se on the street they had seen Williamson go to Kidtier's house and reappear with the liquor, Also, they had seen Williamson frequenting the house, and a search of the premises had revealed quantities of intoxicants there.

The question for His Honour was whether a sale off the premises would sustain that oonvietion.

Mr. E. 6. Jellicoe, who appeared for Kidner, contended that the fact that Williamson 'brought the liquor from Kidner's house did not prove that Kidner was connected with the sale. Williamson might have had the liquor in his private room, or might have taken it home and left it in another coat.

Mr. P. S. K. Macassey appeared for the Crown.

His Honour reserved decision.

THE HAMILTON SHOOTING CASE.

William M'Leod, the defendant in the Hamilton shooting case, appeared before Mi. Justice - Cooper for sentence. M'Leod is an _ expert rifle shot, who takes part in side-shows at the agricultural shows. At the Hamilton show ho undertook to shoot the tip off a cigarette which Leslie Wilson, a young Waikato resident, .was smoking. Wilson sat in a chair, M'Leod fired, and the bullet pierced Wilson's, cheek. His Honour said that he would take into consideration the unique circum_stances of the case. The jury had found- that M'Leod was a most skilful and expert marksman; that he had fired the shot in question with tho full oonsent of Wilson; that the injury to Wilson had been caused, not by any want of nkill on M'Leod's part, but through the involuntary moving of Wilson's head; and t]iat the wound was not serious. Moreover, M'Leod had compensated Wilson, who was satisfied with the compensation. The case would ha the - first of its kind recorded in any English-law reports.. A nominal fine would meet, the case, and His Honour would penalise the prisoner in tho sum of £5, and order him to pay £10 10s. costs. _ Six months were allowed M'Leod in which to pay the fine. His Honour asked M'Leod if he could pay the amount in six months. M'Leod: The wages I am getting now are not very big, but the shows start 111— . .

His Honour: The shows! Yes; but don t you go shooting at cigarettes in peojples mouths. Confine your shooting to inanimate objects, or you will go to gaol.