A STEWARD IN TROUBLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12645, 4 November 1905, Page 5

A STEWARD IN TROUBLE

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, November 3. William Evans, steward of the steamer Stormibird, pleaded guilty at theMagistrate's Court this morning to~ charges of having on Sunday, 29th October, sold ■beer to Joseph Edwards andf! Samuel Gliddon, police probationers, he> not being licensed to do so. Mr Wilford, who appeared for Evans,, said that the defendant was well known.*, as a man of good character. He wished." to say something. a>bout the scheme by • whicih the nian wias induced to break tieslaw. Evans dad not ask the men to* drink,_ but was in a position, in wfoioh? facilities to supply liquor were at :Mm hand. The <nien. oaane to him and askedl him foi'a^ drink, as one of tfem put it- " to save a iif©." • This he knew was no> excuse and Ho plea of extenuating circumstances, but it was not fair tihatr, men about wKom th&r© wjas nothing to>< show that fhey were -policemen shouldT1 go down to a steamiea-and induce a inaits to break the laiv. .... ■ , -.

Sub-Inspector - O'Donoran "witfhdre*w~ the second charge against the defendant; as & plea -of guilty had been put in, but. ■he painted out that th-© second offence* was committed within, an hour of (thefirst. Evans 'had a good character, but; there had ibeen no'temptation to break: the law. The police suspected that artoffence was 'being committed, and went to detect at. The defendant was steward? on board the Storm'bird, but the vessel! had not a packet license, and the quantity of liquoa* he Jh-ad'ooa board the vessel* was more than sufficient for the defendant's own requirements. His Worship mentioned a recent" similar case on the Auckland coast, when ta severe penalty was inflicted. If" any similar cases cam© before him hewould 'have to take strong measures^ Defendant was fined £5 with 9s ccsts.