AN EXPENSIVE JOKE

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 906, 2 June 1903, Page 3

AN EXPENSIVE JOKE

SUPPLYING DRINK TO A PRO HIB [TED PERSON.

The charges against a number oT persons 'for breaches of prohibition orders were heard at tlie Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr W. A. Barcon, S.M , and provoked a great d'-al of interest amongst thoso connected with tho liquor trade. In the citso against Patrick Morris, the defence submitted by counsul, was that the defendant had picked up an empty flask, and meeting a man named Wilson, a prohibited person, ho had handed him the Ihisk by way of a joke.

His Worship : Rather a dangerous joke under the circumstances. Mr Lysnar said it was not dangerous when they considered it was an empty Husk, with only ttte dregs in it. The constable should have satisfied himself as to what was in tho bottle, and hu bad made only a bald statement of what ho saw. The Act was riot intended to cover a case win., a man only moistened his lips. It was a dangerous thing to swear what was in a small ilask, covered by tho hand, at a distance of live yards. Tho flasks were silic same color ns the whisky. Sergeant Siddells : Oil, dear no, a flask is white. You could seo it dO yards

a way i Mr Lysnar, in reply to tho Bench, admitted there had boon whisky in the bottlo. The police were justified in taking proceedings, but a satisfactory explanation would be given. i’atrick Morris, tho defendant, stated lie had picked up a small flask while coming from tho wiiarf near tho Courthouse, it was a smail one, with a glass stopper. Tic picked it up, thinking it would be handy to carry milk in. When ho met Wilson he pulled it out of iiis pocket and said : “ Will you intvo a drink Wilson put it to his lips, and then said that it was no good, as (Piero was nothing in it. Witness thought it was a good joke, as Wilson was prohibited like himself. 110 saw Doyle, who said, “ Hullo, you prohibited beggars, what are you doing here. Get home.” Tho constable said nothing about making a charge against them. By Sergeant Siddells : Defendant had a drink that day, but ho did not think ho was drunk. Wilson did not try to take defendant home. His Worship said that Coustublo Doyle .in his evidence was positive that tho ilask was quarter lull when the bottlo was put back. He would believe the evidence of Constable Doyle against that of tho dofondant and 'Wilson. Defendant would he convicted and fined £5, costs Vs, in default J 1 days’ hard, labor, payment to be made in i-l days. Mr Lysnar asked that the amount be made £0 is, in order to allow him to apoeal; but this tho Magistrate stated he could not do, as £5 was tho limit for such f. case.