ANTI-SHOUTING CASE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 43, 14 November 1917, Page 5

ANTI-SHOUTING CASE

CHARGE AGAINST A BARMAID. Xathleen Francis, a barmaid employed at the Clarendon Hotel, Manners Street, was charged before Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday ■with committing a breach of the War Regulations in permitting "shouting." Inspctor Marsack prosecuted., and Mr. M. Myers appeared for the defendant. Constable James Scarry stated that on Saturday, September 8, he was detailed ■with Constable Brown to visit the hotel and detect breaches of. the anti-"ahout-ing". regulations. They visited the Clarendon Hotel about 9.43 p.m., and .went into the private bar. There were two soldiers there—one was a sergeautmajor and the other, a private. Witness and his companion called for drinks, which were served them by the licensee. Tho latter then went • to another portion of the bar.' The two soldiers called for drinks, which were, served by the barmaid. The private'had a medium shandy and tho sergeant-major .loked for whisky. The private handed over two sixpences, one of which dropped on the counter. The sergeant-major did not pay for his drink. Witness went with Sergeant Scott on the following; Monday and interviewed the licensee (F. "Oobson) and the barmaid. In cross-examination, witness stated that the soldiers hod on their shoulderstraps the letters "N.Z.R." He was quite sure they were not N.Z.M.E. They were not mounted men. Both wore elouch hats.,. Constablo David . Brown gave cc-rro-borativo evidence. 1 The defence was a complete denial of the statements of the two constables. Kathleen Francis, the defendant, said eho had a clear recollection of what took place on tho evening in question. The soldiers did not belong to an infantry unit,-but belonged to a mounted regiment, the colour of .their hat-bands being khaki and green. Witness knew the soldiers by name, and was quite certain that each paid for his own drink. One soldier passed a sixpence over the counter and the.other had a sixpence in front of him. Frederick Dobson, licensee of the Clarendon Hotel, stated that he served the constables with liquor. One of them placed a shilling on the counter ;and the other a sixpence. Witness saw the transaction with the soldiers, and was standing about a yard and a half rway at the time. He was positive he saw each man pay, for hie owjj drink.. The Magistrate reserved his decision.