SLY-GROG.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 105, 19 September 1912, Page 5

SLY-GROG.

A WELLINGTON CASE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., Mrs. Gertrude Bennett was charged with keeping premises at 262 Riddiford street, ing premises at 202 Riddiford street, for the consumption of beer. She was also charged with keeping liquor for sale. Evidence was given that at half-past two on the morning of September 7 SeniorSergeant Mathicson and Constables 'Taylor, Willetts and Joss visited the defendant's premises and were admitted by William Henry Albert Scoones. In the dining-room were seven men. Five were sitting around a table, and two (MacAlistcr and Yates), who were said to be in a drunken condition, were asleep on chairs. The men around the table were stated to have shown signs of liquor, but not so much as MacAlister and Yates. Scoonea informed SeniorSergeant Ma.thieson that he was there in charge of the place, and was acting for Mrs. Bennett, who had gone to bed. Under the staircase, twenty-one full quart bottles of beer were discovered. Scoones said that the beer belonged to Bennett. An empty whisky bottle was found in the kitchen, also a demijohn containing about a gallon of beer. On the sink, immediately over where the demijohn was found, were a number oi glasses. 111 the back yard, near the dog kennel, was found a bottle which had 111 it about three or four nips of whisky. Several whisky bottles were found in an outhouse. During the progress of the search Mrs. Bennett came downstairs, and when asked by Senior-Sergeant Mathicson to explain the presence oi the men and also the position of Scoonea she replied that when she went to bed she left Scoones in charge. Six or seven men in the house had come in for supper some time during the night. She had no

excuse to oiler for their presence at that hour of the morning. The beer 'belonged to herself. Scoones told - the Senior-Sergeant that he was a lodger, and that he and the other men had all been playing cards. Owing to complaints Senior-Sergeant Mathieson had had defendant's premises under observation nightly for about three months. Admission was sought at the back door, but there was no immediate response to the knocks. Entrance was granted when one of the constables called out "Police." With the exception of one man (Grant) all the men found in the house were tramwaymen. There was nothing to indicate any immediately recent consumption of liquor, except the amount found in the demijohn. Defendant said slie kept a tea-shop, where the tramwaymen had supper after finishing work. She was not a teetotaler, and kept beer for her own and her guests' use on social evenings. At no time had she sold liquor. Decision was reserved.

In connection with the above case, Thomas Madden, secretary of Staples' Brewery, was charged with having failed to send to the Clerk of the Court a notice stating that he had sent liquor into a no-licei'.se district. The defence was that the notice had been prepared, but the clerk omitted to put the notice in the letter-box. Next morning lie found the notice, and hurried and posted it. A fine of 20s and costs was imposed.