AFTER HOURS.
A BUSINESS DISCUSSION At tho New Plymouth Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. A. Ctooke, S.M., Hector Cray and Robert Barlow, for both of whom Mr. J. IT. Quilliam appeared, wero charged with having been on the licensed premises of W. G. Emeny, the Royal Hotel, New Plymouth, on the night of August 16 last. Sub-Inspector ITutton conducted the prosecution, and in opening briefly outlined tho facts he would call evidence to prove.
Constable Blaikie deposed that on the 16th ult., about 11.40 p.m., lie saw a motor car in front of the Royal Hotel, and on going towards it saw that the bar and the sitting room were lighted. While he was observing this, he saw Mrs. Emeny, wife of thovlicensoe, come out of the door and look up and down the street and then go in again. On going up close to the hotel witness heard Mrs. Emeny say the police were there. Witness knocked, and after some delay was admitted, when he found the two defendants in a room talking to two ladies, and asked them what they were doing there. They replied that they were there to talk over an important business matter with the licensee but when witness asked to see Mr Emeny, he was told he had just gone to feed. The two defendants shortly afterwards left the hotel and went away in the car. Barlow was under the influence of liquor, but not drunk, while Gray was practically sober. After they had'gone, Mrs. Emeny asked witness to overlook the matter, but he replied that he had to do his duty. There were no signs of drinking about the room, but such signs might have been removed while witness was waiting for admittance. To Mr. Quilliam: The ladies in the room wero Mrs. Emeny, her daughter-in-law. and the latter's sister.
This closed the case for the prosecution. Mr. Quilliam said the defendants admitted being on the premises after hours, and that they were neither boarders nor bona fide travellers, therefore they were called upon to show that they were not there for any unlawful purpose. The facts were simple. Mr. Emeny was the owner of a racehorse called Paddington Green.. Barlow being the trainer and Gray the probable rider. Nominations for the Marton races closed on Augu3t 11 and at >1- Emeny's request Barlov; and Gray came to the hotel between 9 and 10 p.m. to consult as to the nomination ot the horse for one or two races. Mr. Emeny was extremely busy at the time, as the house was full owing to a two days coursing meeting being then held, and he asked the two defendants to wait till after the closing hours. About 10.2(1 p.m., after the house had been closed and Mr. Eineny had spent a little time over his cash and other matters, he went into his private sitting-room, whari' Barlow and Cray had been waiting "'ro.u 10 o'clock. They talked racing an-', '.he prospects of Paddiugton Green for iome time, and it was decided to nominate the horse for two races at the Marton meeting. Mr. Emeny, who had been faeling til all ths evening, proposed to Ik down on a couch, but was advised to go to bcL and did .?i. Jass afterwards, as Mr? Em?H7 had said, and while the defendants had taken tip iheir coats and hats, and were aa.yitg good night to the ladies, the constabls eame in. No drink \vas served to tho defendants after 10 j o'ebek, and they had really been on the premises to discuss what was to them a very important matter. Evidence in support of counsel's statement was given by W, G. Emeny, .Robert Barlow and Hector Gray. His Worship said there would be no conviction in this case. Of course the action of .Mrs. Emeny and what she said to the constable were suspicious, Ini; that could not be taken as evidence against the present defendants. If what the witnesses for the defence' had said was true, and there was nothing to dieprove it, they had been diseussins: business, and the presence of the defendants in tho hotel was perfectly justifiable. It had been suggested that they mould have left the hotel immediately after Mr. Emeny went to bed. but at the most they could have been there for only a very short time afterwards. Tho informations would be dismissed.
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Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1917, Page 7
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734AFTER HOURS. Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1917, Page 7
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