Sunday Trading.

Manawatu Herald, 25 February 1899, Page 2

Sunday Trading.

• ■ + At Palmeraton on Friday, before Mr A. Greenfield, S.M., Edward Fitzgerald, licensee of the Central Hotel, was charged on the information of the police with selling liquor to John Gordon on Sunday evening, February 19th. Sergeant Wilson conducted the pro* secution, and Mr J. P. Innes appeared for the defendant. Evidence was given by John Gordon that he had drinks on Sunday at the j Central Hotel, but he could not re* member if he paid for them. He was staying at the Clarendon Hotel. Benjamin Pascoe said that he had a drink with John Gordon on Sunday last. He was boarding at Dawick's boarding house. He saw Gordon pay for the drinks. Constable De Norville deposed that, in company with Sergeant Wilson, he visited the Central Hotel on Sunday evening at a quarter to 8 o'clock, and saw there two men drinking. Sergeant Wilson asked the landlord who they were, and Mr Fitzgerald replied that they were travellers. Sergeant Wilson deposed that on Sunday evening Mr Fitzgerald was on the inside of the bar serving two men in partial band uniform with drink. Mr Fitzgerald, in answer to his inquiries, said that they were travellers. In answer to Mr Innes, Sergeant Wilson said that the Central Hotel was well conducted by Mr Fitzgerald, and that there had been no previous charge against him. Mr Innes addressed the Bench on behalf of the defendant. Edward Fitzgerald, licensee of the Central Hotel, deposed that two men came into his hotel on Sunday evening and asked for drinks. The men told him that they were travellers, and he then served them with liquor. The Magistrate, in giving judgment, stated that in the face pf the evidence of the two witnesses who had sworn that no inquiries had been made as to whether they were travellers, and also in view of the evidence of the defendant* who although he stated he had asked them if they were travellers and admitted that they would not state where they came from. He had no option but to consider the case a very clear one. In accordance with the Act the defendant had to take every reasonable precaution to , ascertain whether the men were bona fiiSe travellers. The matter was very clear, and as these cases were at all times difficult to prove, he would inflict a fine of £5 with costs us, the conviction to be endorsed on the license. Another case, arising ont of the previous one, was withdraw^ by Sergeant Wilson. — Standard.