BEER AT DANCE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32414, 31 March 1944, Page 5

BEER AT DANCE

FIVE YOUTHS CHARGED INCIDENT AT KEREPEEHI WRONG NAME GIVEN TO POLICE Five youths D’Arcy Bennett, Allen John Crosby, Lawrence Cranch, Gavin Montgomery Hudson and Reginald George Elvidge were each fined £2 10s costs 12s, witness’ expenses 2s 4d by Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., in the Paeroa Court on Monday on charges of being in possession of liquor near a dance hall while a dance was in progress. Bennett pleaded not guilty and Elvidge wrote pleading not guilty. Constable J. L. Brown stated that Elvidge had admitted that he had contributed 7s 6d towards the beer which the party had taken to the dance. Elvidge had not been present when Constable Beasley had caught the others with the beer as he was dancing in the hall at the time. Elvidge in his statement added Constable Brown, had said that Bennett did not drink and had not contributed to the beer. Constable R. Beasley of Kerepeehi stated that on the night of February 29 he had been on duty near the Kerepeehi Hall while a dance was in progress. He had found a party in School road, 200 yards, from the hall. The party had consisted of Bennett and Cranch in the van while Crosby and Hudson had been standing beside the van. Crosby had a bottle in his hand and two bags containing two bottles and six bottles had been found in the grass beside the van.

Bennett had given his name as Steven Corin of Greenland road, Auckland but later enquiries made in Paeroa had proved that his name was D’Arcy Bennett of Paeroa. When questioned all the youths claimed a share in the liquor. Two of the youths were going into camp and they had decided to have a final night out.

Bennett in evidence said he had not told Constable Beasley that he had a share in the liquor. The constable had asked the party as a whole who the beer belonged to and he had not replied. . Fines as stated above were imposed. Bennett was also charged with giving an incorrect name and was convicted and ordered to pay costs. CONVERSION OF VAN TAKEN TO ATTEND DANCE Charged or: two counts of converting to his own use a van valued at £1.50, the property of his employers, Wallace Supplies, Ltd., of Paeroa, Gavin Montgomery Hudson, aged 20 years, appeared before Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., in the Paeroa Court on Monday. Hudson' was also charged on two counts of stealing one gallon of petrol valued at 3s, the property of his employers. Hudson pleaded guilty to all four charges.

Constable J. L. Brown stated that Hudson was working for Wallace Supplies Ltd., at Paeroa and on the night of January 29 he left the door of the garage open, going back later and taking the van to go to a dance at Tapu. Again on February 29 Hudson used the truck t® go to a dance at Kerepeehi. A tarpaulin muster was held among the party using the truck to pay for petrol.

Hudson was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months on the charges of theft of petrol and convicted and fined £2 10s, costs IQs on each of the charges of conversion.