MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10015, 11 April 1910, Page 4

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

MASTERTON—SATURDAY. (Before Mr C. C. Graham, S.M.J BREACH OF THE LICENSE ACK ILLEGAL SALE OF LIQUOR. Kate Neilsen, boardingfaousekceper, was charged with selling liquor within the No-License area of Masterton on April 2nd. Mr C. A. Pownall appeared for accused, who pleaded not guilty. ' Sergeant Miller stated a man went to accused's boardinghouse on Saturday. April 2nd, and was served with a nip of whisky, for which he paid sixpence. Later in the day the same man got a bottle of beer and paid for : it. | Peter Hider said he called at Mrs Neilsen's boardinghouse on Saturday morning,and asked for a drink of beer. He was told that tliere was no beer, i and was given whisky, for which he '. paid sixpence. Later in the day he [ was given a botttle of beer, for which he paid threa sixpences. He J drank the beer on the premise?.

Uross-examined by Mr Fownall witness said he paid three piA-pences for the beer, and knew that he was committing a breach of the l*w. He was told to inform the pcMce, but was not told to buy the beer. He was not sent to buy the beer. He declined to say who told him to inform the police. A gentleman named Bridges was not connected with it. He drank all the liquor himself. In answer to His Worship Sergeant Millar said witness was foul of drink, but otherwise bore a good character.

Mr Pownall said the mere fact of a witness becoming at once an accomplice and an informer laid him open to suspicion. He asked His Worship to rule that some corroboration should be given, as the case was entirely different to one in which the information had been given by probationers who had a duty to perform to the State. The whole thing was evidently some sort of a trap, although he had not been able to trace it. The fact of the matter was that Hider said he was ill and was given the liquor in consequence.

Kate Neilsen, boardinghouse keeper and defendant in the case, denied having given Hider any whisky. She had given him a bottle of beer as he had stated he was very ill. She had not received any money for it.

By Sergeant Miller: Peter Hider had said he bad no money. She did not know why he said -it. She did not remember whether Hider waa in her house at nine o'clock on Saturday morning prior to receiving the bottle of beer later m the day. She did not think he had given her sixpence for a glass of whisky, nor did she think she had given him a glass of beer the night before. She had had one of the bottles of whisky for a couple of days. By Mr Pownall: Peter Hider had not given her sixpence for a glass of whisky, nor eighteen pence for a bottle o? beer. She was quite certain of that. Peter Neilsen, husband of defendnat, said he had seen Peter Hider at the boardinghouse at about 11 o'clock. Witness gave his wifa a bottle of beer to give Hider, as he | was shivering and shaking, and said he was very ill. There was no secrecy ' about it, and Hider had net paid for the liquor. His Worship said that he very reluctantly came to the conclusion that there had been a sale. The manner in which defendant gave her evidence was not satisfactory. She would be convicted and fined £SO and costs.