How times have changed! On Monday 14th October 1895 at the Justice of Peace Court, Robert Shields was charged with permitting drinking at his public house after 10pm.
Robert pleaded not guilty of allowing drinking whilst his pub was closed a little earlier on 3rd October. Defended by Angus Campbell a solicitor of Glasgow. The court heard how Blantyre constable Annan was going past the spirit shop at Larkfield (where now the Olive Music Lounge is), when he saw a light on inside. It was a dark night, so the light drew attention, with the constable noting it was 10.35pm. He stopped at the closed door and listened, hearing conversation inside coming from the bar counter.
License hours ended at this era at 10pm, so it was unusual to hear activity coming from inside. The police officer knocked the door and it was opened by the barman. Four men named Peter McNab, Zachariah Nimmo, David Kerr and Thomas Reid were standing at the counter. Beside them were two half glasses of beer and 2 half glasses of claret.
Thomas James Smith, the barman explained that the four men had been in much before 10pm, and he had served them before 10pm, and that no money or further orders were taken after 10pm, thus complying with the license.
The barman further explained the men were there on business and that the shop had been broken into the night before, the men being there primarily to quote for replacing stanchions in the windows. The constable was suspicious and charged the men with drinking after hours.
However in court, even although it was shown the men were all friends and known to each other, their stories all checked out with what the barman had said and the judge upheld that without any other evidence, it was likely the case that no orders had been taken after 10pm and that at the particular hour, they were not customers but discussing business.
It all sounds rather controversial and I can’t help but think others may have felt it ok in other places to order just before 10pm and prolong their last drink of the evening with some excuse for doing so!
