Better to have got the booze
On 22 December 1896, James Smith was committed by the Perth City Court to take his trial at the Supreme Court. Smith had been given a £5 note by his mate James Frazer to buy a barrel of beer, but had not done so. Smith was arrested when a policeman overheard him arguing with Frazer about the matter. At the City Court Smith also received 14 days' hard labour for being in possession of a ring supposed to have been stolen, the magistrate not believing his statement that he had found it in Wellington Street. Smith was eventually found not guilty on the original charge though when tried on 14 April 1897.
This trial report is from The West AustralianDownload from Trove
