MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1920, Page 6

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

LIQUOR CASES. RATTENBURY'S LAST CHANCE. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, Wore Mr. T. A. B. Bailey, S.M-, Frank Rattenbury appeared to answer two charges of breaking the laws concerning the purchase and carriage of liquor destined for the Mokau nolicense district- He pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector Hutton explained that Rattenbury purchased a case of whisky in Waitara on Sunday, Dec. 28, and late that night was caught by Constablo Blaikie with whisky in his possession at Mokau, having landed it from the launch Tukua.

Mr. R. H. Quilliam, who appeared for Rattenbury, referred to defendant's unfavorable past in regard to similar offences and intimated that he was willing to have a prohibition order taken out, and suggested that he phould remain on his farm at Mahoenui, inland of Awakino, in order to be away from the drink.

After warning defendant that he might be sent to gaol, the Magistrate said he would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. He would have to stay on his farm and keep away from Waitara and the launch. If there was suspicion that he was not observing the law regarding liquor he would be called up for sentence and would be sent to gaol. A prohibition order would be issuad against him. An order was made for the seized -ky to be forfeited and sent to the hospital.

In connection with the same whisky, Albert Edward Julian, licensee of the Masonic Hotel, Waitara, was charged on two counts with failing to carry put the regulations concerning sales of liquor intended to be taken into a proclaimed area, and on a third count with selling liquor to Rattenbury at a time when his license premises were required to be closed. His wife, Elizabeth Julian, was charged, as a person other than the licensee, with having sold liquor to Rattenbury when he was not entitled to be supplied. Both defendants pleaded not guilty, and Mr- Quilliam appeared for them. Evideuce was given by Rattenbury and the barman, P. V. Skelton, regarding the sale to the former. The barman was unaware that Rattenbury, who had been boarding at the hotel for some days with six companions, was about to leave in the afternoon of that day (Sunday). He consulted Mrs. Julian before he sold the case. Constable La Pouple gave evidence concerning an interview he ha I subsequently with Mrs. Julian. For the defence, Mr. Quilliim raised the points that Rattenbury was a boarder, and therefore entitled *o be supplied with liquor at the time, and that no order hid been pvesented by Rarten-i-i;ry to show that liquor wag going to Mokau, anc- the seller could not thmeforft b» e.-.pected to deal with the liquor ss g«« i. De'ijMn was reserved. George Gordon Sang, captain of the rukna, was charged with, being a carrier, taking liquor into a proclaimed area without the required order. He pleaded not guilty, and the information was dismissed, the evidence not showing beyond doubt that defendant had been aware that the liquor was on board. MISCELLANEOUS CASES. . Robert Quayle, charged with drunkenness, was ordered to pay £3 8s fid evpenses by February Ist, in default one month. He had been arrested at Tahora, and remanded for medical treatment. Eric James Reid, a youth, was ordered to come up for sentence within twelve! months if called upon, and to report pnee a week for sjx months, in connection with a charge of abetting A. T. Edgar in the theft of an overcoat at the East End Reserve. David Morrow Crozier was fined £2 and costs for obtaining liquor during the-currency of a prohibition order. George Valintine Martin was charged with being in arrears ( £8 10s) with a maintenance order, and was sentenced to one month in prison, the warrant to be suspended until January 31. On the information of his wife, Alf. Ashley Francis, who did not appear, was convicted of failing to comply with an order under the Destitute Persons' Act, and was sentenced to one monlhß* hard labor. Charges of theft against Ernest Parfitt were further adjourned to January 29th.