George Schofield Publican License Application Denied

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ANNUAL LICENSING MEETING The Magistrates assembled in Petty Sessions , on Tuesday last to consider the applications for publicans licenses for the ensuing year. As usual there was an extensive muster of the fra- ternity of tapsters, many of whose features looked much less anxious after their owners had passed muster than before. The business of the Session was gone through much more smoothly then on any similar occasion for many years past,and we know not of a single decision with which the public have any reason to complain. As a preliminary proceeding Mr. Suttor pro- posed, and Mr. Campbell seconded, that the Police Magistrate take the chair, and the motion was carried as a matter of course. Having ex- pressed his thanks in due course for the honor done him, the business of the Session com- menced, and the following licenses were granted.

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George Schofield's application for a license for the Golden Pippin, Peel, was opposed by James Bruce, who stated on oath that the appli- cant had been living in a state of adultery with his wife (Mrs. Bruce) for 14 years, and was uni- versally known to be living on these terms now. Wm. Archer, son-in-law to Mrs Bruce, and late ostensible landlord of the Golden Pippin, depos- ed that Schofiold and Mrs Bruce had lived at the Golden Pippin during the period for which he kept it, and slept together as man and wife. Mr. Mc Intosh , who appeared for the applicant, stated that he was instructed that he had borne a good character for many years past —a fact which was fully attested by the signatures to his application. Messrs. John Suttor, T. C. Suttor, G. Francis, Thos. Lawson, and James Read, said that he was not now living with Mrs. Bruce. He called several witnesses to character, all of whom stated that Mrs Bruce was living in a hut opposite the public house with one of her sons, — and amongst other witnesses, Owen Moriarty, a butcher, who proved that he served both Scho- field and Mrs. Bruce with meat, but served them separately. The license was unanimously re- fused.

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The proceedings concluded by an observation from the Police Magistrate to the effect that it was satisfactory to find so few complaints against the publicans of the town and district during the past year— a circumstance which he hoped would be of permanent duration.

Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, Sat 21 Apr 1855, Page 2, ANNUAL LICENSING MEETING.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/62048419