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MALSTEG LICENSING PROSECUTIONI

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MALSTEG LICENSING PROSECUTION I "THE ROYAL OAK." UCENSEE'PENAUSED. -GUESTS CONCEALED IN POTATO PATCH The Bridgend Magistrates, with the Chair- man (Alderman Wm. Llewellyn) presiding, Oil Saturday had before them Stephen Hoii-ells, I ale-house keeper, "The Royal Oak." Garth, Maesteg, who was summoned for supplying and permitting a person to consume beer, before the hour of 12 mid-day, on August 12th. Mr. W. M. Thomas conducted the defence. Inspector Rees Davies (Bridgend) deposed: At 7.30 a.m. on Saturday last, in company with Sergt. Lister (Nantymoel), I visited the Royal Oak, Garth, Maesteg. I went to the side-entrance, and the sergeant to the front entrance. I knocked at the side entrance door, and it was answered by defendant's son, a boy 12 years of age. He asked, "Who is there?" I told him to open the door, which was locked, but he took no notice. I saw two men come out from the back door, one of whom I knew by the name of Jarrett. Each had a pint measure in his hand. Immediately following them came the landlord. He took the two pint measures from them, and indi- cated that they should go in the direction of the out-house in the garden. I told the land- lord to open the door. He took no notice, and went into the house with the two pint measures. I continued to knock, and after a while the landlord come out, and opened the door, at the same time saying, "There is no one in here." I immediately entered the house, and saw that Sergt. Lister had already been admitted. I then went out to the back -door, where I had seen the landlord directing the two men. In the garden, lying across the potatoes, I found Jarrett and another man, who gave the name of Sidney Davies, 12 Prit- chard Street, Aberavon. I took them back to the house to Sergt. Lister and the licensee. I told the landlord I had seen the two men come out of the backdoor, with the two pint measures, and that he (defendant) came out and took the pints from them, and returned to the house with them. The landlord re- plied, "I am very sorry. I have never done it before. I supplied the two pints of beer from the two flagons which you can see on the counter." I saw the two flagons; one. was -empty, and the other nearly empty, and they were labelled, Strong ale." We tasted the. contents, and found that it was beer. The landlord also said, Don't report me this time. I shall never draw a pint of beer during closing time again. I have never done it before." I told him it was in conse- quence of complaints received that he had been keeping his house open, and selling beer during the time the men were going to work. He made no reply. I told the two men I should report them. They replied, We had only two pints of beer." Jarrett also said, "I came in with Davies, because he was wait- ing for the train." The two men then left the premises. I told the landlord I should report him. -He replied, "I hope you will not. Mr. W. M. Thomas: Were the complaints made by a-neighbouring publican?—No. Then these proceedings have not been taken in consequence of complaints made by a neighbouring publican?—No. Answering further questions, the inspect-or said I saw the two men over the wall. Seeing these two suspicious men, why didn't yau say, "Here, I want you" ?—I told the landlord to open the door. I couldn't shout to the men and to *the landlord. Howells did not immediately admit that the men were in the house. I suggest you never said you saw the men with pints in their hands?—I did. Sergt. Lister (corroborating) said that, looking through the window, he saw the land- lord come in through the bar carrying two pints "something like beer." He emptied the contents under the counter, and placed the pints in another part of the bar. Witness tapped the window, and beckoned to him to come to the door. Gaining admittance, wit- ness asked defendant "if he had anyone in," and he said "No." Witness next told him that the inspector was at the side door, and asked him to let him in, which he did. He told the inspector there was no' one in the house, and the inspector went towards the garden, and shortly afterwards returned with the two men. Witness repeated the conver- sation that ensude, after which Mr. W. M Thomas put it to him, The inspector never told defendant he would report him ?"—Yes, v he did. Was there a good deal of joking between the inspector and the defendant, who were old friends?—No, sir. Were they cracking jokes about their past acquaintanceship?—Well, he said he was sur- prised at such a thing happening with an old friend. I didn't hear any more joking, and there was no laughing. I was in before the- inspector. x The landlord never made any admission, and he never Expressed Tegret ?-Yes, he did. Mr. W. M. Thomas, for the defence, said that defendant, some time previous to taking over the Royal Oak, carried on business as a butcher, in a fairly large way, at Maesteg. Davies was in the house for his breakfast, as usual. Living -at Port Talbot, it was custom- ary for him to be paid at the colliery between 9 and 10, and he always breakfasted, as on this occasion, at the Royal Oak. The other man, Jarrett, was a relative, and he came to do some gardening. The landlord was up- stairs, and as soon as he could come down, he admitted the police. Stephen Howells (defendant) said he took the house 12 months last January. Jarrett was his first cousin ;-he worked at the colliery, and came to do a bit of gardening. Every Saturday for the last nine months, Davies had partaken of breakfast at the Royal Oak. Witness did not hear the knocking at the door. Mabel (the servant) called up from the kitchen, M Boss, somebody is knocking," and with that he went to the door and saw the inspector. The latter made no sugges- tion that each of the two men had a pint in his hand. The men were not supplied—noth- ing was supplied. The inspector asked if I had any men about, and I said, 'Jarrett and Sid.' He didn't say he would report me, and I never expected that he would. I have known him for 20 years. There was a good deal of chat." By Supt. Davies: Davies had had no break- fast. It was not ready, but he came back and had it. I charge him a shilling per breakfast. The doors were not locked to pre- vent the police coming in. I have had complaints from Sergt. Evans, which are un- true. And also from Inspector Sansom: No, sir. You deny it?—Yes. I know William Thomas, 16 Alexandra Terrace. He was not there that morning. He has only been about twice in the house. I don't admit the two flagons on the-counter —only the one, three parts full, as stated by the inspector. Abraham Jarrett, Station Street, Maesteg, denied having any drink, and assured the Court that on this particular morning he went there to "do a little bit of gardening." It was not a fact that he hid amongst the potatoes. Nothing was said about "report- ing it," though he did hear Howells appeal to the inspector to "overlook it." The Superintendent: You were one of the men found lying between the patato drills?— No; Davies came with me to see the garden. I did not see William Thomas. David Evans, colliery repairer and local preacher, of Maesteg, said he .resided immedi- ately opposite the Royal Oak, whose conduct had very much improved during the 12 months defendant had been in occupation. Witness had never visited the house. In fact, he was a total abstainer. The Chairman said they were satisfied the case had been proved, and defendant would be fined L5. Abraham Jarrett, collier, Maesteg, and Sidney Davies, 12 Pritchard Street, Port Talbot, were then summoned for consuming the beer. Davies: I call there every Saturday morn- ing for breakfast, and go home by the 11 o'clock train, and I made that explanation to the inspector. Defendants were each fined 15s.

IMAESTEG TRAGEDY OF DRINK.

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GATHERED TO HIS FATHERS.

I MAESTEG. I

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MAESTEG MINERS' EXAMINER.…

NANTYFFYLLON-I

PONTYRHYL. j

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IBAD BLOOD AT GLYNOGWR.

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