A Licensing Case.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 315, 16 January 1902, Page 2

A Licensing Case.

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, William Law, licensee of the Kaitoratahi Hotel, was charged with selling drink to William Lindsay and John Turnbull while in a state of intoxication, on December 26. The case arose out ol’ the accident from which Lindsay is now in the hospital. Mr R. N. Jones appeared for the defendant. The evidence was to the effect that Lindsay and Turnbull called at the hotel at about 8 p.m. on Boxing Day. Lindsay got off his horse and went into the hotel and got a glass of “ shandy-gaff,” and also took one out to his mate, who remained on the horse. It appeared from the evidence that Lindsay had signs of liquor on him, but was not drunk, while Turnbull was somewhat the worse for liquor. The landlord, however, had not served Turnbull, nor seen him, and under the circumstances, and in face of an authority quoted by Mr Jones, His Worship decided that there was not sufficient evidence to convict, and he therefore dismissed the case. In doing so he said that the offence charged in this case was, he was very sorry to say, one of apparently frequent occurrence, and it was no uncommon thing to meet persons under the influence of liquor along the country roads. Licensees should take care that they did not serve such people. Mr Jones stated that in the case before the Court he had, if he had been called on, four witnessess to prove thattho man served was sober at that time.