ILLEGALLY ON LICENSED PREMISES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2250, 12 March 1921, Page 2

ILLEGALLY ON LICENSED PREMISES.

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., James Tyson and Frank Thymic, who did not appear, were charged with being illegally on the premises of the Manawatu Hotel on February 19th.

Constable Owen said that about 10 p.m. on the date in question he saw Tyson come out of the hotel. When questioned, he had no excuse to offer. The other defendant came out a few minutes later, and also had no excuse for being there. The constable said these offences occurred before the present licensee took charge. Each defendant was convicted and fined £2, with costs 7s. William Tamplin was charged with being illegally on the premises of the Family Hotel on February 20tb. Defendant did not appear. Constable Owen said that on the evening in question lie sa.w defendant come from (lie back of the hotel. He was under the influence of liquor.

A similar penalty to that in the previous cases was inflicted.

.John O’Reilly, William Healey, and Potaka Hoterini were charged with being found on the premises of the Family Hotel on February 27th, when such premises arc required by law to be closed. Mr Cooper appeared for the defendants, who pleaded not guilty. Constable'O’Donogliue stated that at about 9 o’clock on flic night of Sunday, February 27th, in company with Constable Owen, lie visited the Family Hotel. They went to the back door, which they found locked. They knocked, and whilst waiting for admission the defendant O’Reilly came along. He told Constable Owen that he had come to book a bed. Witness had seen O’Reilly twice previously that evening outside tlie front door ot the hotel. He was not drunk, but was under the influence of liquor. The back door was opened by the wife of the licensee, and ilie three of them entered the hotel together. O’Reilly .immediately booked a bed and went upstairs. Witness tried the door of a room ju'st off the bar, and found it locked. The licensee was asked if there was anyone in the room, and he said no. Constable Owen asked the licensee to open the door, which lie did, and witness went in and saw a man named Mat Connolly and the defendant Hoterini in the room. The former was a boarder at the bouse.

To Mr Cooper: O'Reilly told witness that be had stayed at the hotel the previous night. He did not know whether O’Reilly's mother, with whom O'Reilly lodged, was auay from home at (lie time or not. The men were in a side room, and the licensee was in the bar. There was no sign of drink about the room.

Constable Owen corroborated the previous witness’ evidence. When he entered the room he found the defendant Healey behind the door. He examined the boarders’ hook and O’Reilly’s name did not appear in it, but Mrs Shepherd entered his name down in the entries for Saturday while he was there. The slide of the bar was closed, and there was no liquor exposed. For the defence Mr Cooper milled John O’Reilly, who stated that on this particular week-end his mother was away from home, and he had stayed at the Family Hotel. To the Police: He went to the hack door that night, because the front door was locked. William Healey stated that early in the evening lie met Connolly, who said that his horse had broken awav, and asked witness if he could gel him a horse to ride out to the swamp that night. Coilnolly said he and Potaka were going out together if he (Connolly) could get a horse. Connolly asked witness to come down to the hotel and tell him if ho could get the horse. He was not successful fn getting a horse, and went to the hotel to tell Connolly. He entered by the side door, and found Connolly and Potaka sitting on a table in the passage. They stayed talking a few minutes, and Connolly (who was a boarder) suggested they should have a drink. They went into a room off the liar and snibbed the door after them, as they did not want others to come in. They had only been there a minute or so when the police arrived. Matthew Connolly and Potaka Hoterini gave corroborative evidence as to the arrangement to try and borrow a horse. The Magistrate said that he was not satisfied with the explanations given. As far as O’Reilly was concerned, he would give him the benefit of the doubt, and the case against him would he dismissed. The other two defendants, Healey and Potaka Hoterini, would he convicted and fined £2 each, with costs 7s. The Magistrate said he did not believe the horse storv.

John Ross, who did not appear, was charged with being illegally on the premises of the Family Hotel on March sfh. Constable Owen said he saw defendant come from the back of the hotel at 10.30 o’clock on the night in question. Defendant was convicted and fined £2, with costs 7s.