PROCURING LIQUOR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2690, 21 December 1909, Page 7

PROCURING LIQUOR.

A SUBSTANTIAL PENALTY

At the local S. M. Court yesterday, before Mr. AY. A. Barton, S.M., Robert Barwick pleaded guilty to procuring liquor during, the currency of a prohibition order. Sergeant Hutton said Barwick bad observed bis order well since January last, but he had been before the Magistrate before for a similar offence. The man was' bound over in the sum of £lO to appear wdien called upon. Costs amounting to 5s were imposed. J. McKenzie (Mr. Burnard) was charged with supplying liquor to a prohibited person, Robert Barwick. Defendant, admitted supplying the liquor, but stated be .did not know that Barwick was prohibited. James Edward iParsons, laborer, said be saw defendant and Barwick together in Gladstone Road, on Dec. 4. Defendant then left and went to the Coronation Hotel and purchased a flask of whisky. Afterwards defendant again met Barack and they -walked down Peel Street. Witness informed a police constable, who went to, the Victoria Billiard Saloon and took the two men to the station. On the way Barwick threw away a flask of whisky. Constable Moore gave evidence as to the arrest of the two men. 11 - Constable Johnston said that at the Police Station the defendant had admitted he knew Barwick was prohibited. - . Sergeant Hutton gave evidence that on the Sunday after the offence, the defendant came into the station. AVhen asked by the witness a$ to what he wanted, the defendant said that he had come to find out if Barwiek’s order had run out. Defendant admitted that he knew Barwick was prohibited, but said he thought the order had run out. He ’ afterwards admitted knowing Barwick was (prohibited ‘ at the time. John McKenzie, farmer, the defendant, gave evidence that he. had known Barwick about six years. He knew that at one time an order was .out against Barwick, but thought it was about 18 months’ ago. When he met Barwick on December 4th they talked about the stock sales. Witness then asked Barwick to come and have a drink, but Barwick refused. Barwick then suggested a game of billiards for a flask-of whisky, saying that he could not' get a drink at Ormond the next day. AVitnesg got the whisky and gave it to Barwick at the billiard saloon. To Sergt. Hutton: Witness did not think the man wanted him: to procure liquor. Barwick was slightly .under the influence of- liquor, at the time.' - His Worship: “I haven’t the least doubt that the defendant knew. B.ar- ■ wick was a orohibited person, not the slightest. , This is a very common offence, very .difficult of detection, and a great, amount, of good would result from prohibiton orders but for the fact that a great many men, like the defendant, are ready to supply prohibited persons with liquor. AA hen sucli an offence as this has taken (place I in-

tend to make the punishment as severe as .possible. You will be fined £lO, costs 10s, in default to be recovered by a distress order, and failing that two months’ imprisonment.” Twenty-four hours" were allowed in. which to pay the fin'e.