MARION HOTELKEEPER IN COURT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3769, 13 July 1907, Page 3

MARION HOTELKEEPER IN COURT.

Committed for trial.

Heavy Bail.

At the Marton S. M. Court

yesterday, before Mr Stanford, S. J. Gibbons, licensee of the White Hart Hotel, was charged with /•having incited a man named / Atkinson to make a false statement with regard to the purchase of a bottle of whisky. Atkinson was found by the constable leaving the hotel after closing hours with a bottle of whisky, and it was alleged that Gibbons had written to Atkinson asking him to state that the bottle had been bought previously and put aside for him. The letter was read in the Court and evidence for the prosecution given; Mr Cohen, for the defence, said accused had nothing to say, but raised the point that it was not an offence to interfere with possible witnesses before proceedings were instituted. Accused was committed for trial at Wanganui, bail being allowed, self and two sureties of /250 each. Following is the letter on which the case was founded: —“ Dear Atkinson, —Just a line to remind i you once again to be careful what j you say to the ‘ copper ’ ; that is, \ if he asks you any questions. Be sure that you tell him that you bought it before 10 o’clock, about 9 say, hot sure of time, and also be sure to say that you paid Bill Ward for it, and he handed it to you, but you came back for it. If you stick religiously to this I think I can get you out of the soup as I will get Fred Avis to say he saw you buy the whisky and pay Bill Ward for it before 10 o’clock. It is a serious matter to me and what ever expense you are put I will settle for you. Now don’t forget, old boy, as this b thing is worrying my tripe out. Believe me, yours 1 truly Sam. Gibbons. —P. S. —Bill Little will say that you told him you had bought a bottle of whisky and wanted to go over for it; also v that you wanted me to fetch it out f to you. Next time you are in town come and see me, and we will arrange defence.’’-—Star.