INGLEWOOD.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1918, Page 3

INGLEWOOD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) . , Inglewood, June 14. S.M. COURT. The attention of Mr. A- Crooke, S.M., was engaged, for nearly three hours on breaches of the Licensing Aot, as a result of a raid on the Tariki Hotel by Constable Lonjjbottom, of Inglewood, on May 1. The first case heard was that laid against Vaughan Harkness, farmer, Tariki, who mi represented by Mr. Paterson, and entered a plea of not guilty- Sub-Inspector Hutton represented the police. Constable Longbottora deposed that on May 1' he visited Tariki at 7.50 p.m When he arrived there he waited some minutes before gciing to the hotel door. On trying the front door, ho found it was locked. The side door was also locked, and the windows fastened. The back door was not locked, so he opened this and then knocked. As he knocked Mrs. O'Malley, carrying a candle, came out of the sitting room, and, seeing wit» ness, ran to the billiard room. The constable also moved smartly, and both arrived ait the door together. The landlady, however, smartly blew out the light. He re-lit the candle, and discovered Harkness under the billiard talble, and M'Meekan and Porter also in the room. The bar is alongside, and he noticed glasses, some empty, on the ta'ble. Questioned those present, and did not get veiy satisfactory replies. O'Malley was in the bar when witness reached the billiard room, but disappeared, returning in a few minutes. It was about 8.16 when he entered the hotel, in which he remajned aibout 15 minutes. Ernest Trice, farmer, stated that he wis at the hotel on the night i n questiP»- He did not go into the billiard room, but saw '-Harkness and others there. Later on, Mrs. O'Malley went along the passage in a hurry, and the lights went out. To Mr. Paterson: The weather not being favorable, he decided to stop at the hotel, and booked a bed. V. Harkness, farmer, Tariki, said he had occasion to see O'Malley about busi. ness mattters, O'Malley having prevf. hi I ™ s r pl t d SOme fam Wort f °r mm. When he went to the hotel the door was open . He went down the pas. S* th £ b " liar<l room, and sav 0 Mallej, who had the premises lighted by oandle. He denied absolutely hav- - seeing an y° ne served. When the constable arrived, the latter drew witness' attention to the light being out and the glasses on the t«bl ,i 1,8 went under the taWe doing s ° as he did not desire to get the licensee into trouble. He went t ere on legitimate business, and had no wish to be mixed up in a row. Leonard Porter, traveller, stated that ralM 8 'Vf h ° tel when the constable called. Had no recollection of telling the police that he was not going to say zf? ge * anybody into trouble, rr i , s , aid 116 couW not accept Harkness- evidence, defendant being convicted and fined 10s and costs.

Alexander M'Meekan, baker, at Midhirst, was the next defendant, being represented by Mr. Ryan, of Hawera .Constable I-ongbottom's evidence was similar to that in the last case. When he found M'Meekan, he asked him what he was doing on the premises. Defendant replied that lie was there to get a cheque for ln's firm, and showed the same to witness. Defendant said he was then going liome, and admitted being at the hotel early in the afternoon. Asked him why he did not get his cheque during the day, and was told Mrs. O'Malley was too busy then. To Mr. Ryan: Defendant voluntarily made' the statement about, the cheque, and ho believed defendant by the cheque being produced. . Defendant, in his evidence, said be would- absolutely deny he had a drink, and did, not' call for that purpose. Was anxious to get Ibread ready for next day. To Sub-Inspector Hutton: After getting his cheque he remained behind waiting for his comrade, Porter, who was driving the motor-cycle, but which was not going too well. M} - . Ryan said it had been shown that defendant went there for a specific purpose, and thought the information should be dismisssed. The S.M-: Defendant admits getting his cheque, but also admits* that he remained behind for a time after his business was concluded- A conviction would be recorded, with a fine of 10s and costs. Leonard Porter, traveller, was the next defendant. Mr. Ryan appeared for Porter, and entered a plea of guilty." ConstaJble Longlbottom'a evidence was arepetition of the last_case, and then defendant gave evidence. He said when leaving lnglewood for Tariki his engine gave trouble, and had been doing so for some days.. On arriving at Tariki, he went to the hotel, it being his intention to put up for the night there. When the constable questioned him, he told the police that he had intended to put up for the night, but had not then booked a bed. He had no drink there that night, and saw none served. Cross-examined, he said ho did not take his cycle off the road because M'Meekan was trying to persuade him to go to Midhirst, and that was eventually what did happen; he went on to Midhirst with M'Meekan, wjjo was anxious to get home. Defendant was competed and fined 10s* and costs. James O'M/.lley, licensee, .pleaded not guilty to (1) exposing liquor for sate on May 1, and (2) keeping premises open after hours for the sale of liquor. Ernest Trice gave evidence on similar I lines to that previously given, 'rtve bar ! ,ioor was closed, but the slide appeared to be raised' three or four inches. V. Harkness swore that whilst he was there no drinks were served. Alexander 'M'Meekan said thwt from wlssre he was sitting he could not see if the slide was prised. Leonard Porter could not swear that he saw no b'ght in the bar, but the slide appeared to be slightly open. He knew nothing about the beer and glasses. James OlMalley, licensee, explained the circumstances. In reply to the S.M„ the constable stated that he had previously cautioned defendant aibout.the conduct of his business. "~ The Magistrate said he would dismiss the first charge, but on the second imposed a fine of £6 and costs (15s).