EXCLUDED FROM RACECOURSE

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 18, 22 January 1926, Page 8

EXCLUDED FROM RACECOURSE

SEVERAL TRESPASSERS FINED. VARIOUS EXCUSES OFFERED. After every race meeting the activity of the detective stall' is always retlected in the Police Court, when men who are excluded by regulations, and who have attended t;ie races, appear before the magistrate charged with trespassing. This morning quite a number were paraded before Mr. J. \V. Poynton, S.M. Merely a Nuisance. The first man charged, Alfred J. Massey, did not appear, the chief detective explaining that Massey called on him this morning and stated that he could not get away from his work to attend the Court. Chief Detective Cummings said that although Massey was excluded from the races because he committed the crime of theft, he was only a nuisance because he got drunk and had to be removed. His was a very venial offence, and a nominal penalty would suffice. Mr. Poynton: In his letter he'states that he always goes to races at Christmas time to have a happy Christmas. ''That's so, sir—by getting drunk,' said Mr. Cummings. A fine of £2 and costs was the penalty imposed. Had a Previous Warning. Next came William E. Snelling, who pleaded guilty. Chief Detective Cummings said that accused had been convicted of forger} - , and had previously been fined £2 for trespassing on a racecourse. "It won't happen again, your Worship," said Snelling. Mr. Poynton: I suppose you said that the last time. You have had a previous warning, but you have not heeded it. This time you will he fined £20 and costs. One month was allowed in which to pay. Another £20 Fine. Harry Rae did not appear. The charge against him was that, having been convicted of publishing a double chart, he did trespass on the Alexandra Park trotting course during the progress of a race meeting. "This man, despite the fact that he was fined £20 for the double chart on June 5 last, and has been frequently warned, will not keep off the course,*' said Chief Detective Cummings. "He laid a double himself and then scaled the man who won it." Counsel for Rae said that there wae no suggestion that Rae went on the course for the purpose of bookmaking. He had acted for a man when he laid the double previously, but his principal slipped him up and he could not pay out the man who won the double. Rae w-as fined £20 and costs, and was given one month in which to pay this. "A Terrible Pest." James Sadler then appeared on a charge of trespass, having been convicted of theft.

Chief Detective Cummings said that Sadler was a terrible pest on racecourses, as he got into fights with men.

Mr. Wyatt, on Sadler's behalf, said that defendant, as a matter of fact, did not attend racecourses. In tbe present, instance he was asked to put some money on, and -went on the trotting course to do so.

Sadler will have to pay a fine of flO and costs.