Prosecuting Publicans.

Manawatu Herald, 17 January 1893, Page 2

Prosecuting Publicans.

It was only in our last issue Wo pointed out how extremely difficult it is for tilt; police to prove a case of supplying drunken persons with liquor, and on the same day our article was in type the Tiniei con« tamed the following paragraph : — The Resident Magistrate, Mr H. W. Robinson, was occupied for a considerable time on Friday in hearing two charges of breaches of the Licensing Act, both of which were alleged to be committed in the early hours of Christmas morning, The first case was one in which Alexander Smith, the licensee of the Cricketers Arms, Vivian -street, was charged with supplying drink to Margaret Bryant, she not being a boua fide traveller or lodger in the house. The evidence of the police was to the effect that about 1.25 on the morning of the 25th December Bryant was seen to go into the house, and to reappear in a few minutes carrying two bottles of beer, for which she said she paid four pence each. The woman herself was called, but professed to bp unable to remember very little abont it, saying she had been having a Christmas 'jollification.' The defence, conducted by Mr Jellieoe, was a denial of the sale, the licensee stating that on the occasion in question and earlier in the day he Intel refused the woman drink. The ■light was dim so he could not tell whether she was carrying anything. His Worship dismissed the case, remarking that there was just enough doubt to give defendant the benefit of it In the above is set forth so clearly the difficulties in the way. The witness was " unable to remember very little abont it," tho licensee of the hotel from which she was seen to leave, had earlier in the day refused the woman drink, and had not served her at her last appearance. Who then is to find out where the woman did get drunk ?