SUNDAY TRADING.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1917, Page 7

SUNDAY TRADING.

CHARGE AGAINST NEW PLYMOUTH HOTBJ/KEEPJBR. At the S.M. Court yesterday morning, before Mr. A. Orooke, S.M., a charge was heard against S. Ridgway, licensee of the Terminus Hotel, New Plymouth, for Sunday* trading on May 27. Mr. Johnstone appeared for defendant. Sub-Inspector Mcllveney stated that a foreigner named Joseph Dossenbach had had a conversation with Constable Hill, 'and as a result of this the information was laid. Constable Hill quoted largely from his diary of a conversation with Dossenbach, and also removed bottles from his rooms which Dossenbach claimed had been purchased at the Terminus Hotel. Joserih Dossenbach stated that he visited the- Terminus Hotel fairly frequently. Went to the hotel on Sunday morning, the 27th ult. Went to the bar and rapped on the counter. The boss (Mr. Ridgley) was there. Had a drink and brought a bottle home, paying Is for the bottle and 6d for the "shandy." Faw several persons on the premises, but no one in the bar. Drank the bottle in his bedroom at the boarding-house. Had his dinner and wrote a letter and then went back to the hotel. There were two or three others, but could not say the number. Had the same drink again, leaving with a bottle and paying the same price. Admitted he had been in the hotel the previous Saturday, but had taken no beer away then. To Mr. Johnstone: Was working for Smart Bros. Spent the Friday evening at home, and had no money. Was paid on Saturday, and at 2 o'clock was at Ridgley's. Stayed there 80 minutes and had a lot of drinks, perhaps four or five. Went to the Gro«venor Hotel and had one there. Then had tea, but before that had had 10 or 12 drinks. Denied that he was as drunk as an owl on the Saturday night. Had thinks of lemonade at the fruit shop, but did not drink lemonade at the hotel except as "sham dies." Next morning (Sunday), immediately after breakfast he drank a bottle of stout, but had nothing further till he went out. Had some recollection of a' conversation with Constable Hill at the police station the following morning, in which the constable told him the consequences resulting from telling lies. To the Inspector: Was positive ho got the bottles on the Sunday. S. Ridgley, licensee of the Terminus Hotel, deposed that he knew the previous witness. Was working in the bar on Sunday morning o>'ing to shortage of labor. Did not remember seeing the man Dossenbach In the bar.

To Sub-Inspector Mcllveney: Had seen Spencer there. He came for a bag of oysters he had left there on the Saturday night. To the best of his beliet Doasenbach had not been served with liquor in the hotel on the day in question. This closed the evidence.

His Worship said that in face of the clear and detailed evidence given by Dossenbacli he was not prepared to accept the bare statement of the licensee. The defendant would therefore be convicted and fined £lO, with copts £1 15s 4d.