MAGISTRATE’S COURT HOKITIKA.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1917, Page 1

MAGISTRATE’S COURT HOKITIKA.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24tli, 1917

AFTERNOON SITTING

A DEFENDED CASE.

Police v. Win. McLean, (Sir. .Murdoch) a charge of permitting ness on licensed premises, Maliinapua Hotel with allowing a girl under age to serve in the bar, suplying a youth under age with liquor t Leslie Stanley Green, stated lie was 20 years of age, and about a fortnight ago he went to the Maliinapua Hotel. Ha was there until 4.30 p.m. He saw Mrs McLean, and arranged with her to take a' room, intending to board there. He then went to the bar; there were several others there. He asked for a drink, and Mrs McLean served him. He was in the hotel until the train "left. The daughter of the licensee served the men with a drink. He spent 7s or 8s in the hotel. A man called Smith was there also. There i»»» no shouting. Although lie was not feeling too good, lie was..not- drunk. Hr was not there half an hour when the girl served him. All the other drinks were served by Mrs McLean. He brought two bottles away from the hotel. Mr McLean Was at work. There were five in the hotel altogether. He was re-; fused drink in two hotels in Hokitikaj; w lien lie was arrested. The guard caution e:.r me for making a noise on the train. He was not asked what his age was by anyone. .He was only two months at Ruatapu. He left the hotel last Monday night. „

To Mr Murdoch: —Ho gave no information to the police, and there «•«» no bargain with the police. He was a n uTect stranger to McLean. Fie told the police that lie was 22 years of age. He had a dispute with the boardinghouse keeper at Ruatapu. He liars paid his board. Ho bad no intoxicating drink since the 4th August. His Worship stated that the cross-

xamiimtion of witness would not be ikon down.

" Witness, continuing, stated that the daughter wa's only about 14. Thomas Jeremiah Smith stated he was at the Mahinnpua Hotel on the day in question. He saw Green. Ffe was there before Green. He was in the bar. the girl was serving in the bar when lie got there. FFe did not know the girl, she served him with drink. When Green and the others went into the bar lie was on the verandah. He saw Green in the bar. Green was served hv Mrs McLean. FFe was four times in the bar. Green was sober when'he was there. Green seemed alright when he went.to the station. Green was drunk oil the train. To ' Mr Murdoch : —Green was not drunk in the hotel. Edward George Stent,- guard on the Ftokitikn-Ross railway, said he checked Green from singing :on the train. Green was merry. This con cl tided the ease for ' the police.

Mr Murdoch stated that on the evidence of the two witnesses, Green was not drunk, therefore he pleaded not guilty to the charge, ' On the charge of serving Green with liquor, he being under age, it was incorrect, in that he was a bona fide lodger. Mrs McLean, wife of the licensee, ■stated that she remembered Green com-, ing to the hotel on August 4th. Her daughter showed Green his room. He did hot sleep in the hotel until Monday. Her daughter did not serve in the bar on the day in question. Green was not drunk. She did not supply Green while he was intoxicated. Smith was in the bar. She never left the bar after Smith came. Her daughter was never in the bar dm ing the afternoon. Green was supplied with two bottles before he left. La vine McLean daughter of the licensee, and 14 years of age, stated that there was no one in the hotel except Mrs McLean and herself. She knew Green, but she never served Green. She did not serve Green or anyone else. She was’ not in the »«. at all that day. She very seldom went .into the bar. William McLean, licensee of the Ma- \ hiniapnla Hotel, stated that lie was Working away from the hotel. Green jhad occasionally visited the hotel liming the evening prior to the day in Question. Gre'en was charged for his ; room from the 4th August, and lie paid witness on the 20th August just he- ; f„re lie left. On the' 28'tli July he asked Green if lie was of ageinhd he replied 'that lie' was. Mrs McLean is always alone in the hotel. William Johnston stated he knew both Green arid McLean. He slept in the same room as Green. He remembered that Green' had told McLean that |he was of age. He did not see Green m'n August 4th. , , Edward Rocliford stated that he knew both McLean and Green. He also saw Green, who had a hamper which lie |took to his robin. He saw Green go -to the'railway station. Green was not ■ drunk The girl . was never m the bar. He did not know Greens age. ' Mi-s McLean served at the bar. He maw Smith on the verandah. He did hot go into the bar with smith. was hot drunk when ho left the hotel. Robert ‘Simpson, bushman at ILiatapu, stated that'lie knew Mr McLean ! also Green. Green looks a man over 81 years" of age. He was at the hotel Oh August 4th at 10.15 saw i Green and Rockford at the hotel,; He : saw Smith, He did not see Lavma m the bar. . . . His Worship reserved his decision. debt case. Toohev Bros (Mr Wells) v. ,5. F. McDonald, ' claim £1 4s;"jndgment for plaintiffs with costs ss. ' ’ DISPUTED CASE. Toolioy Bros (Mr Wells) v. M. Sheriff (Mr. Murdoch) claim for £2 4s 6d On plaintiff’s application a non-suit was entered' up. 'ln a counter claim, M; Sheriff (Mr Murdoch) dawned £2 10s damage# from Toohcy Bros (MrWell*). •' "•'/ •

Mrs. Sheriff stated that die took her bicycle to Toolioy Bros, for repaiis and they had sent it out to another person; not getting it back for 20 hours, for which she claimed 2s 6d an hour damages. James Tooliey gave evidence that by a mistake of an employee the wheel of another customers bicycle was put into Airs. Sheriff’s bicycle and was taken away by the customer by mistake.

His Worship allowed los made up of 7s fid. for car hire, os bicycle hire and 2/6 damages.