A GAME OF BILLIARDS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10648, 1 June 1912, Page 5

A GAME OF BILLIARDS

AND WHAT IT COST. William Jones and F<ra'nk McKellar were changed in the Magistrate'® Court at Miasterton yesterday, under section o of itlhe Police Offence® Act, •1908, with 'having Sheen found in a public jbilliard .room-after hours. William Sinclair, the licensee of. the billiard room, was idharged with having failed l to close his 'room a't li ip.m. on

the night of Miay 25th. iMr JJavery appeared for the defendants, who pleaded not guilty.

Oofnstaible Bird deposed that he had visited Sinclair's. billiard trooni at 11.14 on' Saturday night teiso; He femnd, Jones' and McKellar r just leayingrthe room, and Sinclair and hi© asscstant with tlheir coats off. The billiard tables were covered. I'he 'keeper of the Saloon stfated that two plhyers had finished a game of Milliards after 11 o'clock.

For rbhe defence, it was alleged that when .t>be constable called 1 , the billiard •room was closed for the purposes of thjo Act. Ttore was ohly one light 'burin ing, and the bilHiiard' tables had been covered. Jones and MoKellar were in the, room, waiting for Siniclair So dean i uip and go to tswpper. Constable Bird 'had isuspedted that there was drink in the .room, an'd had been invited 1 to conduct a search. The door was closed, but was not locked. Two persons were playing -biffiiardis at- 11 o'clock, buft they had .been stoppled. Evidence was igiven by TA' il'liam Sinclair, William Jones *md Finnic Mc- ' Kellar. ■ - . ;

His Worship isaid the easd was not a wry serious one. 'lt was just as well, ihowever, "that people i should know that .they must not be in a bilMi'd room after eleven o'clock. It" was •admitted ,tha<t billiardis were be- 1 ing ipOayed .up till eleven o'eltack;, so that tli.e .rcom could not have been closed- *t itliat hour. Sinclair would be fined 10s and 1 7s costs, and the.other defendants would be convicted . a' - -'J discharged.