THIRSTY

NZ Truth, Issue 1215, 14 March 1929, Page 7

THIRSTY

A Midnight Visit To Hotel COURT SEQUEL

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Timaru Rep.) Some men seem to be l ike^ petrol tanks — liable to go dry at any moment.. It. so happened that Arnold Earl and Stanley Earl found themselves m need of spirit at midnight. It also . happens that the law decrees against the sale of the particular fluid they sought after 6 p.m; ' . . ACCORDINGLY the- Earls found themselves facing Mr. C. R. Ov'v Walker, S.M., m the Magistrate's Court at Timaru on charges of having been found after hours on the licensed, premises of the Commercial Hotel on March 2. ' Both were further charged with wilfully assaulting Sydney Cooper, the licensee of the Commercial Hotel. Stanley Earl was also further charged with breaking a glass window valued at 17/6, the property of Sydney Cooper. ■ ; From the story told by the police it appeared that the two men called at the hotel at midnight and rapped on the back door. The wife of the licensee answered their summons, but refused to let them m. They were wanting beer. The refusal of admittance was followed sharply by the door being closed m their faces. It was then that the window was broken, this being a piece of spite on the ; part of the thirsty ones. They evidently considered that hope deferred is an excuse for smashing windows. The shattering of glass brought Sydney Cooper, on the scene. Cooper on opening the door was assaulted.. Stanley Eaii, who had a bleeding hand, fan away after the first exchange, but" was pursued and caught by Cooper., ' . The story told by the police wss denied by the offenders: • . Their version was that they had gone -to the, hbtel. to obtain drink. The wife. of the licensee, offered to: sell them two bottles of • beer, but refused to allow them on the premises. Cooper came down to see what the argument was about. .' : He: was m a temper and handed out a blow which caught Stanley .Earl over the right eye leaving a nasty cut. Cooper did not appear to support the charge of assault, which was accordingly . dismissed without prejudice. The visit to the hotel cost." the accused£2 e'a<Sh, while Stanley Earl was ordered to repay the price of the damaged window, m ' default three days' imprisonment. .^ „ ■ ; '.