BETTING IN HOTEL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 10, 11 January 1918, Page 4

BETTING IN HOTEL.

I A BARMAID FHfED £35. FOR TAKING A "DOUBLE" BET. A charge against a woman of having acted as a bookmaker wae heard before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., yesterday afterV noon, when Jessie Janet Martin, a bar--maid at the Criterion Hotel, was charged that on December 12 she made a bet on the licensed premises of the Criterion Hotel, and that on December 10 and December 12 she assisted Joseph Reee in the commission of the offence of bookmaking. Evidence was given by Daniel" Drummond, a "waterside worker, that on' December 12 he met James J. Mahoney, who eaid he wanted a double bet. Witness took him to the Criterion Hotel, where they had a drink, and witness introduced him to Miss Martin, who served them, and told her Mahoney wanted a bet. She asked Mahoney what horees he wanted, and he told her and handed her £1, after* which ehc went to the private bar slide, 'and then came back and gave Mahoney the change. Witness said he had seen Mies Martin take money previously from his mates for bete. Jae. J. Mahoney, a probationary constable, stated that on December 10 he went to the Criterion Hotel and asked for "Joe," meaning Joe Reee. She said" ehe didn't know Joe , Reee, but iwould ccc if he were about, and went to the private slide. He saw.

Rees put his head round the slide and look at witness,- then defendant came back, and eaid Joe wasn't in. Two days 'later he went iback, and wanted a double, when defendant eaid that Bees would not take the .bet, and told Drummond that witness wae a detective. Drummond told her witness wae all right, as he had seen him working on the wharf. He and Drummond went back to the bar and had a drink, and defendant then agreed to take the bet from witness, and he took,' a £20 to 5/ double, paying the money and getting change. Witness asked her if Rees wouM pay him if he struck the double, and sne replied that if Reee didn't pay up she would. He didn't have any conversation with Eeea. At this etage Mr. Durham, for defendant, intimated that a plea of "guilty" would-be entered, and the alternative charges of "assisting" were withdrawn, and defendant was convicted on the charge of betting. Mr. Durham stated that defendant did not make anything, out of the business, and was merely acting as an agent out of friendship. Hia Worship remarked that defendant's conduct showed her to be thoroughly accuitomed to the business. She would hi fined £35 and costs. .... A further charge against the defendant, of having assisted Reee on December 21 toy having vouched for Mahoney when he wanted to take a double from Rees, was disnuseed had been heard.