The Ontario Scrapbook Hansard

Ontario Scrapbook Hansard, 17 Apr 1919, p. 7

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mumuyee or the Ambrose Woods Co., the Toronto liquor vendor, been called. than the jockeying began. Mr. H. Hartley Dewart, ICC., who made the charges in the Legislature 'which resulted in the inquiry, was beginning to examine Cane, when Mr. T. R. Ferguson, K.C., counsel for the Woods ttrm, explained that he represented them and that on their behalf he objected to the wit- ness giving any evidence relating to their private business, as the com- mittee was not empowered to investi- gate that. After the explanation of 'Mr. Ferguson, the Chairman. Mr. Charles McCrea, gave a ruling that the committee would only investigate the business between the Woods firm, and the Government, and that it; could not investigate the private af- lfairs of the company; also that the :witness could not testify as to such matters without the consent of his former employer. Mr. Dewart Appeals. . Mr. Dewart intimated that he was dissatisfied with the ruling of the Chairman. He announced that he appealed from it to the committee. There were a few anxious glances by Conservative members of the committee when they realized that it was doubtful if they would have a majority if the vote were taken. Several ot the Government support- ers began to ask questions, which effectiually served to block the vote being taken at that time. A messen- ger was sent out to corral other Government members of the commit- tee. Within a few minutes two or three of them sauntered in one at a time. During this time Mr. Dewart turned his attention to another phase of the case. Only one G'.ov- ernment supporter backed the claims of Mr. Dewart during the discussion. That was Col. Machin, but even he turned down the Liberal investiga- tor when the vote was finally taken. There was much sparring sition at the last meeting Public Accounts Committee Legislature yesterday. No had Mr. William E. Cane, a employee of the Ambrose Ivo the Toronto liquor vendc called. than the innknvina Mr. Saunders Denies Ever Having Seen Witness Before MUCH SPARRING FOR POSITION Public Accounts Committee Votes Down Mr. Dewart's . Question MYSTERIOUS 30 CASES as much sparring for po- the last meeting ot the counts Committee of the y yesterday. No sooner . Cane, a former With this contradictory evidence, Chairman McCrea hurriedly sent for Mr. James Haverson, to try and clear up the matter. In response to the summons Mr. Haverson breath- lessly entered the room. and after briefly having the evidence told to him, said that he thought he had gent a letter to Mr. Saunders with O'Rourke. He declared that as the act stood in 1916. liquor seized as was the lot owned by O'Rourke and Walker, it could not be confiscated, as the charge had only been one of having liquor in a place other than Lbriirhte-dwe11irur. The owners of the liquor were entitled to get it back. And thus the matter rested. Mr. J. D. Flavelle. Chairman of the License Board. said he had no recollection of the incident. He promised to look up the records. Mr. Havel-son Heard. Mr. Walker told of Mr. O'Rourke and himself securing a letter from Mr. James Haverson. K.C.. to Mr. Eudo Saunders. solicitor to the Li- cense Board, of being taken down to the vault by a young man, and of taking the 30 odd cases away, divid- ing it between them-the former owners. Subsequently Walker ad- mitted that some of the liquor found its way back to the Grand Central Hotel. and that it was seized by the police. Walker stated at the outset that he and O'Rourke had seen Mr. Saunders. When Mr. Saunders expressed doubt as to this, Walker said he would not be sure. Mr. Saunders declared emphatically that he did not recollect having Been Walker before, and that as far as he was concerned it was "a com- plete fabrication and a _tt1ost monstrous story." Most of the session yesterday re- lated to the return of some 30 cases of liquor seized by the local police several days after prohibition came into force. Up to September 16 the liquor had been in the Grand Central Hotel. At)tee prohibition became law the liquor was moved to prem- ises occupied by Messrs. O'Dell and DeFleury on Wellington street, by Messrs. Tim O'Rourke and George Walker, who Jointly owned it. The liquor was sent to the Parliament Buildings and put in the vault. Sub- sequently the question arose as to whether the liquor could be con- flscated and it finally went back to the owners. - - - -- --......,, was taken, three of the Liberals drifted away. That gave the Gov- ernment the majority, and the Chair- man was quick to take advantage of it. "You needn't answer that," inter- jected the Chairman, and he again repeated his ruling referring to a similar ruling in previous years. The vote was taken and the ruling was upheld by 9 to 7, Col. Machin vot- ing with the Government. After Mr. Dewart first asked for the vote be- ing recorded, and before it tinally nun" o.,,--... 4L--- - " .. - '- Mr. Dewart finally forced the is... sue when he asked-What was done by the Ambrose Wood firm with the liquor that you have referred to, and how was it treated by them before it was sold to_the public? of Seized Liquor.

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