THE "SLY GROG" GASES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 125, 5 September 1913, Page 2

THE "SLY GROG" GASES.

Not a Serious Matter. Light Fines Imposed. A sequel to the recent police laid on a King street toarding-house was heard in the Pukekohe Magistrate's Court on Thurslny, when John and Esther Rollings were charged with selling liqucr, to wit, beer end stout, without being duly licensed. Doth accused pleac'ed guilty. Conetabh Willcocks stated the fscte were that the attention of the police was attracted to the large quantity of liquor being taken to this boarding hi u;». O.j August 14Lh (wo esses, cont-.ining seven dozen bottles each, were left, and on August 29th a similar quantity. lie detailed the particulars of the rail. Mrs Rollings tiok all tiie responsibility, and said she did rot think there was any harm in letting "the boys" have some beer. Hp did not think the accused were carrying on business with anyone outside, but were only supplying huarder.'.

The accused stated they had acted entirely in igncrance, and Rollings explained that the consumptioa if the first quantity was due to the celebration of hi 3 birthday and to giving some men who had put up a tent for bim some bottles of beer.

Mrs Rollings said the liquor was sold to "the boys" at the same price as it coat. "The boys" would conio in and ask for a bottle of bser and if blis had it she would give it them. The Magistrate said he was prepared to believe that the uccused had acted but he thought everyb:dy knew they could not aell liquor without a licer.se. 'He pointed out that the accused had rendered themsel\teu liable to a fino of £SO each, but as he was satiefied it was a genuine case of ignorance, and the liquor had unly been sold to boarders, he would only inflict the nominal fine of £2 10s each, with cost? 7s, and order the forfeiture of the liquor. T. P. Bailey, licensee of the Mauku Inn, was then charged on two occasions with selling liquor at a place where he was not authorised by his license ti sell same. Mr W. Endean, who appeared for the accused, pleaded guilty, and the police agreed to withdraw one charge. Mr Endean urged that his client had acted in ignorance, having no direct knowledge of what a license empowered. The accused pnssed by Rollings' house on his way from his hotel to the railway station, and being asked to leave a case each of. beer and stout did so. There waj no extra profit and he did it from gocd nature. The owners of. the h;tcl were thoroughly satisfied with the way accused corducted the hotel. '1 he liquor was taken in broad day-light and there was no attempt to clandestinely put it intj the boaiding-house. Constable Wiilcocks said the house was well conducted and accused had never been before the Court before. He pointed out the difficulty the police would have in tracing ely-grog selling il publican* were permitted to sell liquor in this way. The Magistrate thought accused had acted in ignorance. There was nothing to suggest otherwiss, and accused had nothing to gain by selling from the cart instead of from tha hottl. Accused would be convicted aGd fined £2. There would oe no endorsement of the license.