TEA-STRAIGHT

NZ Truth, Issue 1184, 9 August 1928, Page 7

TEA-STRAIGHT

Jockey's Joke Proves A Boomerang

(Prom "N.Z. Truth's" Hastings Rep.) The sensational "cold tea" case m Hastings has ended. In November of last year a deoidedly novel arid interesting climax was provided to a licensing case when it appeared that a priceless trap had been set for the police. DONALD HUGH McLEOd', licensee of the Hastings Hotel, was charged at Hastings with opening his hotel for the sale of liquor after hours, and also with actually selling liquor to the jockey, Athol Griffiths. Griffiths was also charged with being unlawfully on licensed premises, but it was Griffiths who sprung the „ startling, surprise. , When the police, on duty espied, , Griffiths coming out of the hotel m the late evening, with two suspiciouslooking bulges m his overcoat pockets, they deemed it time to take a hand. . Griffiths was taken to the police station, and it was found that' the two bulges were caused by two bottles, .nicely corked and sealed. These bottles'could have been sold anywhere (from appearance) as genuine bottles of beer, and as such they played a prominent part m the court proceedings which followed. • . ' Then it was that Griffiths sprang his surprise. "That is not beer m those bottles," he said. "What!" roared Lawyer B. J. Hallett. "What is it/then?" ■ ' "Cold tea," was the calm reply which Griffiths gave, and when he gave it those m court knew he was right. " It is easy to imagine the sensation which followed and no other course was ■ possible, but to adjourn the cases and send the bottles to- Wellington to have the contents officially .analysed. That was last November, about nine months ago. . Since then a lot of. water has flowed under the bridges.

GREAT SUSPENSE

Magistrate A. M. Mowlera has suffered a severe Illness which Kept him off duty for six months, and there has been an almost all, round change m the personnel of the Hastings police force. The last sitting of the court, however, found it revived and there was a decided stir. when the charges were once more read out. Inspector Cumming was present and informed the' court that. the analysts'report had now: been received. It was shown that the contents of .the bott/e were non-alcoholic. ■ - Magistrate Mowlem: Then we can proceed no further? ■ The Inspector: Not on that point. His Worship: Well, I might as well say at once that the information against McLeod will tie dismissed. Lawyer Hallett: I would like to mention, your worship, that I had not the suspicion that the bottles did not contain, beer. Had I known I would have disclosed the fact at once and saved the time and expense of the court. • '■■-.-', His Worship: I think we can absolve you of any blame Mr. Hallett. , The Inspector: Certainly, sir. His Worship: The position m regard to Griffiths is different. The law' throws on him the onus... of proving that he was not unlawfully on. the premises. . He made the excuse that he. wanted to see Mr. McLeod about ,a horse. I have been asked to accept many excuses, but this is one I most decidedly cannot accept. i! "He made up that excuse on the spur of the moment and he had no right on the place. There is good deal more m this case than meets the eye — a great deal more, and T have no hesitation whatever m, convicting Griffiths. . The jockey was thereupon fined £2 and £3/18/6.