ILLEGALLY ON LICENSED PREMISES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1735, 29 September 1917, Page 3

ILLEGALLY ON LICENSED PREMISES.

OFFENDERS PINED,

At the local sitting of the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, before Mr \V, G. K. Kendrick, S.M., six eases against persons for being found on licensed premises when such premises are required by law to be closed, were heard. Sub-In-spector McKinnon prosecuted.

The first cases called were against John Taylor, Kere Makariaka and Haiti' Tawhiri, who were charged with being found in the Family Hotel on Handily, September IGth. The defendants did not appear.

Conuslablc Woods stated that on the date in question, at about 9.30 a.m., in company with Constable O’Donoghuc, he visited the Family Hotel and found the three defendants in the bar parlour with the licensee. The door leading into the parlour was locked. Witness knocked, and the licensee called out: 'Who’s there?” Witness replied, “The police.” The licensee said, “Oh, we are full up of that game.” Witness said, “Constable Woods speaking; open the door.” He then hoard the bar slide slammed down, and the door was unlocked. The licensee said that he had ordered the men to leave, and they had refused to go. When served with the summonses the defendants said they would plead guilty. Hub-Inspector McKinnon pointed out that the men were locked in the room. The Magistrate said matters of this kind should be mentioned .to the Licensing Committee, which the Sub-Inspector said he would do. Fines of 20s, with costs*7s, were inflicted in each case. Frank Gay and Harry Broderson, who did not appear, were (■barged with being found on the premises of tin 1 Mann wain Hotel on Sunday, September Kith. Constable Woods staled that he and Constable O’Donoghue, visited the hotel at 7.30 p.rn., and whilst there heard a knock at the side door. lie opened the door and found the two accused. When asked what they were doing there, they said they had no excuse.

• The licensee, Mr Lumsdgn, who was present in court, said that at the time he was upstairs, and did not know anything about the men being there.

The Magistrate said the licensee was not to blame in the matter at all. The defendants were each lined 20s, with costs 7s, , Victor Betty, charged with being found in the Manawalu Hotel at 9.20 a.m. on Sunday, September Kith, pleaded not guilty.

■Constable Woods stated that on entering the hotel on the Sunday morning in question, he saw defendant by the staircase with one foot on the stairs, talking to the licensee. When asked what he was doing there, he said he was waiting for a boarder to see about going out for a row on the river. A\ ilness knew the man boarded at the hotel, and fancied he was upstairs at the time.

Corroborative evidence was given by Constable O’Donoghuc. The defendant, in evidence, stated Ilia! on Saturday, September 15th, he made arrangements with two boarders at the Manawalu Hotel to go out for a row on the river the following morning. They asked witness to call for them at the hotel at half-past nine. Vutness went up the back staircase to one of the boarder’s rooms, and he was having a shave, and witness said he would wait for him. He then went down the front staircase, and enquired from the licensee for the other boarder. He Avas Availing half-Avay up the staircase Avhen the police came in. The licensee was not present at that time. Percy Lumsden, licensee ot the hotel, said that defendant had inquired for one of the boarders, and was aftenvards waiting half-Avay up (ho staircase. He Avas not present when the police came in, being busy in the store-room. Defendant often called in on Sunday mornings for the boarders to go for a pull on the river.

The Magistrate said there really Avas no actual necessity for defendant being on the premises, as arrangements could easily have been made to luia'o met elscAA’hcro. He avhs not satisfied Avith the excuse, and indicted a fine of 20s, Avith costs