KEEPING A GAMING HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 273, 17 November 1902, Page 8

KEEPING A GAMING HOUSE.

THE WELLINGTON TATTERSAL'S AGENCY.

THE ALLEGED PACTS ADMITTED

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, Friday.

The Wellington Magistrate's Courtroom wore a singularly lively aspect this morning, when the gaming Charges preferred against Rowland HSU, Harrison and Richards Packman, came on for hearing before Dr. McArthur, S.M. The prosecutions against defendants arose in connection with the recent suppression of GeoTge Adams ("Tattersall's") by the Federal Parliament, which had caused much difficulty to New Zealanders who wished to send money to the sweep promoters in Australia. The Courtroom was literally covered with parcels, bags and papers seized from the defendants' office by detectives last week.

In attendance were several wellknown citizens who had each invested a few shillings with the object of quickly and easily securing a small fortune. They were not there on their own accord, and would gladly have escaped from the impending ordeal of being put in the witness-box to give evidence on behalf of the Crown. As it. happened, they were not placed in this awkward position, defendants' counsel admitting the facts put before the Bench by the Crown.

Mr. Myers, acting for the Crown, intimated that he would proceed on two charges of keeping a gaming hWse, and assisting in management of a lottery within the meaning of i the Act. The method under which the defendants worked was to accept money and applications for tickets in sweeps as parcels in the ordinary way, a booking fee of (3d being changed He would be able to prove that defendants were the paid servants of George Adams, of Tasmania. It forwarding business had been carried out as the defendants advertised they would do, it would have been difficult to prove a case against them, but parcels had been opened in the office, and money paid into the account of George Adams at the Bank of New South Wales at Wellington, and a list of names forwarded to a "Mr. Grant," Hobart. At present thsre was over £4000 standing to the credit of George Adams. It was important to note that tha account could not be drawn upon by the New Zealand representatives. It could only be operated upon from lasfor the defencey interrupted .to say that he admitted the fContinuing. Mr. Mvers said that It did not matter whether the lottery was drawn m a pla^e of business. The \ct applied equally to any place where Pa substantial part of the business of such a lottery was conducted. Dr. Findlay said the questions arisino- out of the case were very far reaching They involved the question of whether a person taking any part as an assistant in the working of a lottery drawn in a foreign country was liable to the law's penalty. Defendants had attempted to frame a scheme to make legal the sending abroad of money for lottery' purDoses He contended that they had SET no more than rece.ve hi" opinion, also, the section of the \ot Satin" to the subject applied only to lotteries conducted in New inland .He failed to see that the pface of defendants' business could fairly be called a gamin- house. The facts having been admitted, no evidence was called, and His ttorahip reserved judgment. Bail was allowed in sureties of £50 each. The remaining charges were adjourned sine a conviction be obtained on the present charges it is very unlikely that the Crown will proceeu with the others.