BOOKMAKERS FINED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 40, 27 November 1940, Page 7

BOOKMAKERS FINED.

SIX MEN AND A WOMAN. SUM OF £2384 TAKEN IN DAY. I (Per Press Association). PALMERSTON NORTH, Nov. 26. Breaches of the Gaming Act were admitted by six mem and one woman who appeared in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Dario La Ghetto Giorgi and Harry M. Essex were charged with carrying on, the business of bookmaking. Ada Beatrice Giorgi was charged with assisting them. Detective-Sergeant Meiklejohn said Giorgi and Essex pooled their businesses in addition to buying out, in July, the business of a third mam named Williams. As a result they conducted one of the largest bookmaking establishments in the city. They had five telephones, and up to- 4 p.m. on -November 23 business for the day amounted to £742 13s. On the first day of the Wellington meeting they took £1633 16s. For the fijrst day ,of the Christchurch Cup meeting the takings were £2384 18s. It was astounding that such -a large amount of money went through one office. Giorgi and Essex were fined £l6O. Mrs Giorgi was fined £25. Jack Vickerstaff, proprietor of a billiards saloon, was fined £IOO for bookmaking. The other three accused, John Francis Hickey, George Horbert Manuel, and Henry Barnett Scott, were all barmen. The first was fined £2O, having carried on hookmaking for quite a long time. The ether two were fined £l6 each. All acted as agents. Mr Meiklejohn intimated that it might be necessary to bring hotel licences before the Court also- if it was found that they allow bar betting to be carried on in their premises.