THREE MEN FINED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 224, 5 July 1939, Page 3

THREE MEN FINED.

GUILTY OF GAMING OFFENCES. . (Per Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, July 4. Fines totalling £6O were imposed upon three men when they were charged in the Magistrate’s Court this morning, one with using .premises at 441 Colombo Street, Sydenham, as a common gaming-house last Saturday, and the others with bookmaking on the same- date. Each was fined £2O and costs, in default three months’ gaol, by ‘Mr E. C. I.evvey. S.M. Lester Grimes, a billiards-room proprietor, aged 54, pleaded guilty to using his premises in Colombo Street as a common gaming-house, and Clifford Taylor, a labourer, aged 38, and Ernest Grimes, agijfl 26, a moulder, admitted carrying on business as bookmakers.

They were first offenders, said Detec-tive-Sergeant J. McClung. The premises of Grimes, sen., had been visited, where a notebook recording a number of small bets had been found, and there was evidence of other bets having been taken in the room. Business had been bad for Grimes, and he had allowed betting to creep into the saloon. Ernest Grimes, added the detective, admitted taking hots, hut stated he was only an agent, and that the bets were passed on. Taylor was a married man with five children. He had been on the No. 13 scheme and had tried to supplement hi’s income. Both men had been frequenting this room, where the bets were made.