LIQUOR AFTER SIX?

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 123, 16 February 1918, Page 3

LIQUOR AFTER SIX?

CHARGES AGAINST A LICENSEE. In the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. S. E. M'Cartliy, S.M., Joseph Stuart, licensee of the Imperial Hotel, Cuba. Street, for whom Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared, was charged with keeping his bar open- for the sale of liquor and exposing liquor for «le after 6 p.m. Sub-Inspector .Emerson, who conducted the case for the polico, said that at 7.45 p.m. on Saturday, January 19, Sergeant. M'Lean and Constable Scarry visited the hotol. They entered the premises bv a side door in Garrott Street, and _ going along a- passage they got a view of the bar and saw a soldier with a. glass ot liquor held to his lips They went into the bar and saw another soldier there with an empty glass in front of him talking to a barmaid, and the. licensee's wife was also there. The slide, which consisted of fine netting, was closed, hut the liquor could be seen from the room in which the soldiers were standing AVheu questioned, the licensee's wife said that the soldiors were boarders. On examining the lodgers' book it was found that neither of the soldiers, who were brothers, was a boarder. The licensee's wife then said that the soldiers came in and asked for beds, but she was unable to accommodate them.

Evident'.? in support was given by Sergeant M'Lean and Constable Scarry. For the defence, it was stated that the soldiers had not been, served with liquor nor was any liquor exposed for sale. 'Die two soldiers had previously stayed at the hotel, and on the evening in question they were in the hotel asking to be accommodated with beds. The licensee's wife, who. attended such matters, told the men that she was not sure that she could accommodate them, but she would do her best. Just then the barmaid came in. and the two men got talking to her. The barmaid had her hat on, ready to go-out. The police came in immediately afterwards. Mrs. Stuart, in answer to a question, told the police that the soldiers had been boarders, and had cor.ie in seeking to be accommodated with beds. The lodgers' hook was open, and the police couJ,d have examined it. Tho soldiers had not been supplied with liquor by the licensee's wife or by any servant in the employ of tho licensee. After hearing the evidence the Magistrate decided to inspect the premises More giving his decision.