MAGISTERIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2410, 27 January 1909, Page 6

MAGISTERIAL.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26

(Before Mr. W. A. Barton, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. Michael O’Roairke was convicted and fined 10s with 2s costs, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment. J ames Fuller, for a second offence within a period of six months, was convicted and fined Cl and 2s costs, or four days’ imprisonment. X SUPPLYING LIQUOR TO A PROHIBITED PERSON. John Stevenson pleaded not guilty to a charge oi having supplied liquor lo one Geo. Henry Little knowing him to be a prohibited person. Constable Scott said that on the evening of Jan 6th. Qie s»iw defendant and Little sitting on th footpath' in Bright Street near the rowing sheds. Defendant took a drink out of a large bottle and handed it to Little who put it under his coat. Witness came on the scene and received the bottle from Little. He found flic bottle contained beer, and defendant denied any knowledge of Little being prohibited. Botii Little and defendant were tailors by trade, and he had seen them constantly together. On the evening of the day on which he caught them th© two of them took passage to Napier under assumed names, and he (witness) saw them drinking at tho bar on board t'lio steamer.

Defendant said that Little had given him to understand that his prohibition order had oxiiired. I-lis Worship said that he was quite satisfied that defendant knew that Little was prohibited. He would be fined £lO and 7s costs, the amount to be recovered by distress, in default- of distress two months’ imprisonment in the Napier gaol. Charles McCrea pleaded guilty to a charge of having supplied liquor fo one Denis O’Meara, knowing him to be prohibited. In extenuation lie pointed out that lie was under an obligation to O’Meara, who had got - job for him, and in a moment of gratitude, never thinking, be- had taken a bottle of beer out of his pocket and tendered O’Meara a drink. He naked for leniency on the grounds that it was his first offence.

A different complexion was put on the case when Constable Scott gave his-- evidence. He stated that he saw the two men finding behind' ;an outhouse at the Poverty Bay Rowing Club’s- shed. Defendant handed the bottle of beer to O’Meara who had a drink and handed it back. When accosted, defendant denied that he knew O’Meara was prohibited, but O’Meara said that he did know. Defendant was freuuentlv in the company of prohibited men. His Worship said that the.evidence of Constable Scott put the case in a new light altogether. Defendant would be fined £lO and 7s costs, recoverable by distress, or, in default, of distress, two months’ hard labor.

PROCURING LIQUOR

Denis O’Meara pleaded guilty to a charge of having procured liquor during the currency of a prohibition order against himself. Mr. H. J. Finn" appeared for accused and made a strong appeal on behalf of his client. He urged that defendant, who had already been convicted four times for ,a similar offence, be ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. His Worship agreed to the suggestion, and defendant was bound over in one sum of £lO.