MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2470, 25 May 1915, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

ALLEGED LIQUOR SALE , IN NO-LICENSE DISTRICT At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. J). G. A. Cooper, S.M., Gertrude Bennett, refreshment-room keeper, 262 Riddiford Street, Wellington South, was charged that she kept liquor for sale in the Wellington South I No-License district. Mr. E. G. Jellicoo appeared for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty. The case for the police was that at the time of the raid—twenty minutes after midnight—the shop door was stil! open. There weie some fourteen tramwaymen inside, many of whom were playing cards. There was money or two of the tables, and four glasses which it was Alleged had contained beer. A search brought to light a glass jar. containing about a gallon of beer, eight bottles of beer, and a bottle and a half of spirits.. Gordon Aston, a clerk, gave evidence for the defenfce, and stated that the bag containing the jar of beer was his, The bottle containing some whisky was - also his. : i Harold Hart-gave evidence that whei the police visited the place he was there for supper. He had ordered han and eggs, and had placed 2s. down foi payment. The police confiscated the money. He saw a constable remove c glass from the table. Defendant gave* evidence that she had no interest in the bottle of whiskj found by the police. Sho did not ever know it was on the premises. At ne time did she have beer on her pre raises for the purpose of sale. Beer foi the household consumption sho broughi from Staples and Co. Eight bottle; from her last purchase were on th< premises when the pe>lice 'arrived. Several fricnels had visited her that night and they had had some beer. She hac never sold boor. Inspector Hendrey put in a list ol beer purchased by defendant from December IS to April 23, totalling 32 gall«us. Defendant said that she knew the police had had her place undei observation, hut she did not know foi I what reason. Friends had come tc her place in ihotor-cars, but she denied that the occupants left in an intoxicated condition. His Worship said that although the oircumstances' were suspicious, he did hot think the evidence was sufficient, tc Sustain a. conviction. The information would be dismissed. A further charge against the defendant, of keeping a room in a No-License district for the consumption of liquoi was adjourned till May 31. YOUNG MAORI CRIMINAL. Joe R-awiri, a young Maori, pleaded guilty to the theft of a pair of shoes, valued at 325. 6d., from his employer, Henry Callingliam. He had a fairlj long list of. previous convictions, two being for theft. One month's imprisonment with hard labour was imposed. • A SEARCH FOR A WIFE. A young man James Baldwin pleaded guilty to having damaged a pane of glass, valued at 55., the property of Walter Oakam, and to having attempted to damage a door panel. The a'ccused, said Inspector Hendrey, was troubled with a violent temper; and when lie could not find his wife on Saturday he went to one neighbour's houa< and broke a window, and attempted tc break a door panel at another house. He had been a member of the Samoan Force, and now desired to 'join the reinforcements. A fine of 55., with costs amounting to 125., was imposed. SOLDIER'S MEAN ACTION. A member of the reinforcements to the Expeditionary Force, named Henry Charles Boot, pleaded guilty to the charge that' he was n rogue and a vagabond, in that ho collected subscriptions, representing that the money was to be used for the purchase of games for the troops at Trentham and on the troopship Inspector Hendrey said that the man in this particularly mean pursuit had called.at almost every house in Oriental Bay and had received about £7, which he had used to purchase drink. . Accused did nut think this was the sum he had colleictod. He put his trouble 'down ; to drink, and asked for leniency. His people, he said, wcro well-connected in Christchurch, and ho could apply to them to .make good the nioney. He was married, and had three children, the eldest being ton years of ago.

Inspector Hemlrey said that drinlc was apparently <ho man's trouble. His record showed a conviction for vagrancy in Chriatcluirch. A senteneo ff one month's imprisonment was imposed. OTHER CASES. Julia Callingham was fined ss. for keeping her shop open for .trading purposes on a Sunday.' Phillip Herbert William Ogier, charged with arrears in a maintenance order, was sentenced to imprisonment for seven days, the to bo suspended so long as os. per week is paid. William Waters, on a similar charge, was sentenced to the' same term, the order to i e suspended oil the payment of 3s. per week. Patrick O'Sliea and Thomas William Hiliks were each fined 10s., in default 48 hours' imprisonment, for drunkenness. Five offenders were dealt with in the ordinary way. John M'Cart-liy, a blind man. who was charged last week with having used obscene language in: the public bar of the Royal Hotel, and who was then allowed a remand to obtain the services of counsel, appeared yesterday, and asked that the case should l>« lieard before the Supreme Court. The caso was l omanded till to-morrow.