MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1933, Page 5

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

CHARGES HEARD AT HOKITIKA. The Magistrate’s Court sat at Hokitika this morning, Air W. Meldrum, S.rvi dealing with the following cases: • breach or Licensing Laws. William Hall, senr., (Mr J. A. Murdoch) was charged with opening the Dunedin Hotel after hours, and with selling liquor after hours. Deiemiant pleaded not guilty to each charge.

Frederick Hall (Air Murdoch) was charegd, that being other than the license, he did sell liquor. Defendant pleaded guilty.

Constable Dougherty said lie visited the hotel where he found three men, named Holley, Laughton and Lincoln in the bar. parlour, and Frederick Hall was with them. Witness asked ior an explanation for their presence. He accepted the story of Holley and Laughton, who had not had..any liquor, bux the third man had a glass in his hand which he dropped on witness entering. The licensee and other members of tnc family were not in the house at the time.

Counsel said that Frederick Hall had committed a breach, but the licensee, he would prove, was not liable for the unauthorised act. The third man on the premises was a bully and a nuisance, who had refused to leave the premises wnen requested by the police. He was a bullying waster.

Frederick Hall, one of the defendants, and son of the licensee said he was in delicate health. The third man referred to, Lincoln, came to the hotel xliax night and asked for a drink which was supplied without charge by defendant, although lie had been instructed by the licensee not to supply liquor to anybody. William Hall, defendant, and licensee of the Dunedin Hotel, said that he had instructed his son six months ago that he was not to sell drink, and as far as lie know this was the first time that lie had done so. He did not know cl' the matter until the next morning. His son had disobeyed instructions ai.d had no authority to soli. The Magistrate said lie saw no reason to doubt the evidence by defendants. The charges against the licensee were dismissed, while the other de endant was ordered to pay costs. On Licensed Premises . Found on the premises of the Occidental Hotel nromises after hours, one. defendant pleaded ret guilty, saying Jio bad <nno J o see a lyv.W’-w who had shouted for him. He was fined £1 and costs. T— - other defend■.m+a. who did not appear, were each convicted, one was fined £1 a>’j costs, and the other being order to pay costs.