CHARGES AGAINST HOTEL LICENSEE

Taupo Times, Volume III, Issue 140, 1 October 1954, Page 1

CHARGES AGAINST HOTEL LICENSEE

ADJOURNED TO NOVEMBER 26 Before Mr W. A. Harlow, S.M., in ihe Magistrate's Court at Taupo on Friday, September 24, Gladys Mary Fearnley, licensee of the Terraces Hotel, Taupo, was charged with opening the premises for the sale of liquor on Sunday, July 11, 1954, with exposing liquor for sale, and with selling liquor. Maurice Michael O'Connor and Roydon Gwyn Mitchell were charged that being persons other than the licensee they did supply liquor to persons not entitled lawfully to be on the premises. Charges were preferred against Uventytwo persons of being found on the premises on the day mentioned. The hearing of these charges is reported elsewhere in this issue of the "Times." Appearing for Mrs Fearnley, Mr D. Tompkins (Hamilton) stated that it was his client's intention to defend, but that her medical condition was such that she was unable to attend that day. He produced a medical certificate from Dr. D. A. Richards stating that defendant sliould be- confined to bed for ten days. Doctor's Evidence For the prosecution, Sen-Sgt. Alsop (Rotorua) opposed an adjournment. He stated that - defendant had been served with summonses on July 27 and submitted that there had been ample time to prepare a defence. Mr Tompkins, Sen., had asked fdr an adjournment three weeks ago, but had been told that the Police wished! to proceed. Mr Harlow, S.M., said he would not accept the medical certificate but would adjourn the« case for an hour to enable Dr. Richards to be called to give evidence as to Mrs Fearnley's condition. In evidence later Dr. Richards stated that he had examined Mrs Fearnley on September 20. She was suffering from a leg infection requiring local applications and should keep off the leg completely for about ten days. Sen-Sgt. Alsop: Would it be a physical impossibility * for Mrs Fearnley to be here today? Witness: No, but it would retard her getting better. Sen-Sgt. Alsop: Do you know whether Mrs Fearnley is still in bed? Witness: I cannot say, I have not seen her since the 20th. Mr Harlow, S.M.: There is nothing really serious is there Doctor? Witness: No. Mr Tompkins stated that if the case were not to be adjourned he would be placed in a difficult position as the case was not prepared. He realised that the Police would not wish to have it held up for two months, and submitted that their objection would be met by an adjournment for two or three weeks to the Rotorua Court, where the magistrate sat every fortnight. Sen-Sgt. Alsop said he would prefer that the case were heard at Taupo. Mr Harlow, S.M., adjourned the hearing of the charges, including those against O'Connor and Mitchell, to the sittings of the Court at Taupo on November 26. He said that it must be understood that on that occasion the case would go on.