OPEN AFTER HOURS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 583, 8 February 1929, Page 13

OPEN AFTER HOURS

LICENSEE’S FIRST CONVICTION

LONG RECORD BROKEN

A licensee’s record of many years’ hotel-keeping without a conviction was broken at the Police Court this morning, when John Reilly was charged with keeping licensed premises open after hours, and his wife with obstructing the police. Mr. R. McVeagh entered a plea of guilty on both counts. Sub-Intspector McCarthy said that a sergeant and constable hud entered tho hotel about 11 in the evening. Mrs. Reilly had rushed to the door leading to a private bar and closed it. Several men who had no right to be there were in the bar and the proprietor was also present. “Some of the men got away,” continued the subinspector, “but we know that at least two unauthorised persons were there.” In the opinion of Mr. McVeagh. Mrs. Reilly had acted on impulse and her action was not usually held to be obstruction. “It was a natural impulse for her to rush to the door of the bar and shout to the people there,” said counsel. “There was no attempt to conceal anything. The licensee had just arrived home from the pictures •uod his son was in the bar. Everybody was quite frank. Mr. and Mrs. Reilly have been keeping hotels for many years, both here and in Timaru, and this is the first conviction recorded against them.”

Reilly was fined £4 and costs and his wife £2 and costs. “Though Mrs. Reilly’s action may nave been due to impulse, I am almost inclined to regard it as more Mr lima than the other change,” commented Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M.