DOBSON TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1929, Page 6

DOBSON TRAGEDY

CHARGE AGAINST PUBLICAN. GREYMOUTH, September 10. At the inquest concerning the death of Peter Henderson- Kennedy, on August 19th last, the Coroner, Air W. Aleldrum, S.M., in giving his verdict stated that in his opinion the proprietor of the Buckshead Hotel at Taylorville was greatly to blame for serving deceased with four drinks during the aft'vmnoii. when be was already under the inline.!;-"-' of liquor, and allowing him to go home after dark without seein" that be was iu the charge of somebod v. 1

As a s-' ”ol to the inquest proceedings, Charles Senior, licensee of the BucksTiead Hotel, was charged at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr W. Meldrum, 9.M., with supplying liquor to Peter Henderson Kennedy, when the latter was intoxicated; and. also with permitting drunkenness on his premises.

After hearing evidence the Magistrate, in giving his decision, said: There was no direct evidence in support of the two charges other than the admission by defendant (at the inquest) that deceased was showing signs of liquor and that he had served him with two beers straight. Senior had given his evidence very frankly at the inquest and had stated that he did not take particular notice as he was very busy at the time. That was the only evidence in support of the charges. On the other hand the witnesses called for the defence were very clear and explicit that deceased had left the hotel sober. One witness, however, had given evidence that deceased had a bottle of whisky, and that probably explained why he was later found drunk on the roadside. There was no evidence that Kennedy had drunk the whisky in the hotel itself, or as to whether he was supplied with a pony beer when he was intoxicated. TJnder the circumstances he found it* impossible to convict on either charge.