RESIDENT MAGISTEATE'S COURT

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3956, 2 September 1881, Page 4

RESIDENT MAGISTEATE'S COURT

THIS DAT. (Before H, Kenrick, Esq., R.M.) BBEACH OF BEGUtATIONS. W. J. McKee was charged with allowing gambling to take place iv his hotel, the Coach and Horses, at Shortland. Mr Brassey appeared for the defendant. Sergt.-Major O'Grady stated the case, saying that the game bad been played by a number of boys. Mr Brassey admitted that the offence had beeu committed, but contended that the game, which was called " Devil's pool," was not a game of chance, and therefore was not gambling within the meaning of the act. He said the defendant had tried to keep the boys out of his house, but they would persist iv congregating there. His Worship said he was constantly receiving letters from parents complaining that their boys were enticed into hotels, cigar divans, &c, and asking him to try and put a stop to it. To these he had been obliged to reply that he could do nothing unless the matter was brought before him professionally. This had now been done, and he thought the publicans were much to blame for allowing young lads (as in the present case) to congregate in .their hotels and waste their time, and, in fact, ruin themselves for life before they had hardly entered upon it. He severely censured such conduct, and said he had no doubt but that charges such as the present one would greatly militate against the renewal of a license if they came before the Commissioners. He did not mean these remarks to apply only to the case in point, but intended them as a general warning to the hotelkeepers on the Thames. In the. present case be would reserve his decision until Monday, to allow him to look well into the matter, and see if the game complained of was really gambling. . . , : V ANOTHEB CASE. E. Twohill wtfs also charged with a breach of the 'regulations by supplying a drunk person with liquor, but thu case was adjourned for a week, the defendant not'being able to appear owing to the injuries he had received yesterday by a fall from his horse. .. i JVEFECTIVB LIGHT. Alex. Hanlen was charged with neglecting to keep a proper light burning iiear a hole made by him on the.beach road, on the 25th of August. . • Defendant said he had. taken every care' to 1 keep the lights burning, and had sometimes lit them three or four times during the ni^ht, but the lanterns were «:put but or else taken away altogether by some person or persons unknown. ' The same defendant was then charged witti a similar offence on the 28th inst. He pleaded guilty, but said he had on that night asked the police to replenish the Ijght,, and they had'premised to do so, but had failed to carry out that promise. His Worship dismissed the charges, but cautioned the defendant to take more care in future. : BAD QUALIFICATION. Mr Allom applied that the name of Philip LeQuesne, be struck off the electoral roll, he riot possessing the^ freehold qualification he was there said to possess. —Granted. Court adjourned. ...;. ■