LIQUOR TO YOUTHS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 98, 2 May 1913, Page 5

LIQUOR TO YOUTHS.

TOKO PUBLICAN IN COURT

FINED ON THREE CHARGES

At the" Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr Kenrick, S.M., Robert Morrison, licensee of the Toko Hotel, was charged with supplying liquor, to be consumed on the premises, to three youths under the age of twenty-one years. * Mr Robert Spence appeared for the licensee, and pleaded guilty to all three charges. He explained that the liquor hadt been supplied on the night of the Toko sports, when there was a big rush of business at the Hotel. Two of the boys, when attired in bowler hats, and wrapped up in overcoats, with scarves round their necks, would look over,, twdnty-one. The other boy had r been i,refused liquor by the licensee, but, the whisky bottle being on the bar, had helped himself, the licensee’s injunction notwithstanding. While admitting the 1 seriohsness of the charges!, ■Mr Spence said he 1 hoped his Worship could 'see his way 1 not to endorse/the riic&nse. 1 ■'>

Questioned by His Worship as to the general conduct of the Hotel. Sergeant McNeely said he did not feel justified in saying anything about it. No complaints had been made to him. His Worship said that in dealing ■with this class of case, it was undoubtly the duty of the licensee to give himself the benefit of the doubt. He pointed Out the seriousness of the charges, ‘in that it was within his power to endorse the license. He would, however, take into consideration the report of the police, and would merely indict a fine, though he wished it understood that he regarded the offences as serious enough to warrant endorsement. On the first charge, accused would be fined £lO, and on the other two charges £2. Costs amounting to £2 8s 9d were allowed.