Herbert Rodda, Henry Rodda, and Michael Sullivan, of Pengegon, Camborne, were charged with being on the premises of the Basset arms inn, Pool, after closing hours. They pleaded not guilty. 

P.C.  Meneer said he saw defendants drive up  in  a  pony-trap to the Basset-arms about 20 minutes to eleven,and seeing the trap still  in  front  of the  public  house at 11.30   he went inside. He there saw  two of  the  defendants  in  the  bar  and saw Herbert Rodda drinking a glass of beer.      In answer  to questions one  said  they  were  waiting for a light.    Afterwards the landlord and Rodda came out and made excuses and also asked for a little indulgence.

Mr.  W. Rowe having opened  the  case   for  the defence, Henry Rodda  gave  evidence.       He  said   they came up to the inn   and  had  a  drink   each and were about to depart,   just before eleven,   when,  it  was found  that  the  light  of  the   trap had gone.      After some trouble   he managed  to get a candle from a neighbouring shop ;   but,    while  he was in the house on the second occasion,  he had no liquor at all.    During the time  he  was trying  to make the candle  fit  the   socket  Mr. Elliott came to him and said  Meneer  was watching the house and he would be almost sure to call some time or other. 

Herbert Rodda  proved  going   to  buy  a  candle,   and said he had not drunk a glass of liquor  during the Christmas. Neither did the policeman see him drink a glass of beer.    He only had a glass of ginger beer before eleven o'clock. 

Michael Sullivan also said he had a “ stoue-ginger ” at the Basset-arms before closing time. Having no light the last witness fetched a candle, and while the elder Rodda was getting it to fit  the socket  he and   the  younger  Rodda  went into the house but had no drink at all.

Albert Henry Elliott,  the landlord of the inn,   was then charged with selling intoxicating liquors after closing hours. 

P.C. Meneer said after he closed the door of the public- house he heard the rattling of money and getting to the bar saw Sullivan and the younger Rodda  standing up against it, with the  landiord   by his side   and  the  landlady  behind the bar.  He saw Herbert Rodda drink a glass of beer right off, without taking breath.   He was sure it was beer.       In October he had cautioned the innkeeper of the way he conducted the business.      As to fetching a candle from the shop, he did not see Rodda  come  out  of the  house and return.    If he had come out he should certainly have seen him. 

A. H. Elliott, landlord, swore that no beer was sold to the defendants after 11 o’clock.—Sup. Vercoe: Have you been cautioned  before  by  the  police-constabie ?—Mr. Rowe : You need not answer that.—Sup. Vercoe: Oh, well I will accept .the inference.

Mrs. Annie Elliott,   wife of the  landlord,   spoke  to  serving the defendants before 11 not after 11.   The policeman's evidence as to Herbert Rodda drinking beer was false. 

Mr. Rowe was proceeding to call another witness; but the Chairman said he did not see there was any necessity, and Mr. Rowe then said he would leave the case in their hands. 

The Chairman said he was not at all surprised, and no doubt his  brother magistrates felt  likewise,    that  the  land- lord had tried to prevent a conviction in this case  , because it was  perfectly  clear  his house  had  been  badly   conducted. So  far as the young men  were concerned   there  was  not much in that case, but he was sorry they should have come there and   told  the  magistrates a great many things   which they  were  utterly  unable  to believe,    and   which  no one would believe for one moment.     The charge against the landlord  was a   different  matter.       He knew  his house was not conducted properly,   and it appeared that his wife was always on the look-out for the appearance  of the policeman. The young men would be fined 5s. each   and the costs,   and the landlord. £1 and costs.     This  time  they  would  not endorse  the  license ;   but  if  he was brought before them again they certainly would.