RESIDENT MAGISTRATES COURT

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1042, 22 August 1879, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATES COURT

THIS BAY. (Before T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M.) SLY GROG CASES. John Lawson was charged with solliticr two glasses of beer and one glass of brandy, contrary to the Ordinance. Mr. O'Meagher appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. JSTowton for the defence. Mr. O'Meagher applied for a warrant for the production of a witness named Alexander M'Kenzie, who, he had no doubt, was kept out of the way ; and asked that the case might be allowc 1 ' stand over for the remainder of tii,"' Every effort had been made by the v to iind the witness, without avail. ,c The case was then adjourned. This case was called on later in the day, but as the prosecution had failed to obtain the witness M'Kenzie, Mr. O'Meagher withdrew his charge. Alexander Gordon was charged with selling a certain quautity of liquor to Robert Dunbar, on the sth inst., contrary to the Ordinance.

Mr. O'Meagher prosecuted, and Mr. Hislop appeared for defendant, and pleaded not guilty. Mr. O'Meagher briefly related the facts of the case, and called Robert Henry, who deposed that ho knew the defendant. He remembered the 4th inst., and had slept in defendant's house on the evening previous. On leaving the house next morning Dunbar asked the defendant for two nobblers of brand}'. A bottle and two glasses were produced, and Dunbar and witness helped themselves. Witness had been in the habit of drinking brandy for the last 15 years, and that which he had at defendant's house was pale brandy. Defendant was standing at the door, about a couple of yards away from witness. Dunbar paid defendant Is for tho drinks, and he put the money in his pocketRobert Dunbar corroborated tho evidence of the last witness in every particular, and nothing fresh was elicited during cross examination. Sergeant Beatty gave evidence to tlw effect that Alexander Gordon was tho occupier of the Temperance Boardinghouse, Tees-street. This was the case for the prosecution, Mr. Hislop did not call any evidence. His Worship said that he was sorry for the defendant, as his house had usually been conducted in an excellent manner, and, taking that into consideration, he would only make the fine LlO. The second charge against defendant was withdrawn, Mr. O'Meagher remarking that the prosecution did not wish to be " bloodthirsty," but merely to try and put a stop to this evil. The charge against Rachel Shaw of selling liquor on the 9th inst., was the next case brought on, and defendant pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay t tine of L 25. The other charges against defendant were withdrawn.