SHOWMEN PROSECUTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 145, 21 June 1926, Page 9

SHOWMEN PROSECUTED.

GAMES AT WINTER SHOW. ARE THEY GAMES OF CHANCE? j ! i ! '"" ~ ' J DEMONSTRATION IN COURT. j Are the games known a= box ball and t sky ally, played at the Winter Show, games of chance? This is the question which Mr. J. W. Poynton. S.M., was I asked at the Police Court this after- ' noon, when three showmen who had amusement stalls at the big show on Prince's wharf were prosecuted Maurice Darling, Frank de Lyall, and ' James MeCorkindale were each charged with playing by way of gaming, in a public place, at a game of chance, known j as box ball. MeCorkindale was further | charged with playing sky ally, another I game of chance. j Senior Detective Hammond prosecuted Mr. Singer appeared for de Lyall., Mr. Moody for Darling, and Mr. inder for MeCorkindale. The three charges concerning the box ball games were taken first. ' Detective NaTder stated that the j games were played at the Winte? Show, which commenced on June 9 and ended on the 19th. Ea<:h of the accused had spaces in the amusement portion of the chow. The box ball game consisted of 20----boxes with twelve square holes, each! hole being numbered from 1 to 12. Three balls were provided, and the person who got the greatest number out of all the boxes won the pool, the prize being a large box of chocolates. The balls were thrown a distance of about four feet.' Witness considered that no skill was required in order fo win. Detective Nalder, in answer to a question by Mr. Hammond, said that at night when the games were played, a' big crowd would crush round the j players and thus eliminate any skill j being used. Mr. Singer objected to this, stating that the same might be said of the' players in a football match when ! crowds of people were cheering. Cros«examined by Mr. Moody, the wit- I ness admitted that all the balls must i fall into the holes provided. Darling! explained the rules of the game. i To Mr. Singer witness said that de Lyall'e numbers were visable. A taller man would have an advantage over shorter players. Senior Detective Hammond, as a result of what Mr. Singer said, then admitted that the game of box ball had been played at the Dunedin Exhibition. Mr. Singer: And at Wembley too, it was played. Detective McWhirter then gave evidence about the games being played. Mr. Inder then said that he had proof —literary proof—that the same game known by another name, "Love in a Tub," had been played in England for the past 150 years without « single complaint having been made. Mr. Hammond considered that in no way was skill necessary to win. If a man threw, .all three balls together he would have the same chance as a man who professed to use skill. Mr. Moody 6aid that Darling had been at the Dunedin Exhibition with his game, and during ±£he whole time there had been no coflj'plaint. After Mr.. Singer had quoted several authorities in support of his contention that the -games were not games of chaneei the hearing in respect of the : box ball games. ,was adjourned. In respect to the sky ally game a demonstration was staged in Court. After.the. table covered with green bai?e. ' had been laid on the solicitors' bench, Mr. Hammond rolled three balls down together and secured a total of 26 points. Mr. Indw then called an expert, but to the delight,.of the senior detective he could only■' get 20; in as many attempts. When the. Court resumed Mr. Singer said that he understood.that the magistrate had seen the game played nnder adverse conditions when he visited the show. Mr. Poynton: I was .met by two men who introduced themselves as experts. Mr. Singer; But they were not our experts, ■ your Worship. Mr. Poynton then mentioned that children had to be considered, for some threw all three balls together, while— Mr. Singer: Yes sir, but that is not the way the game should be played. I don't know whether you will take notice of stupid play with three balls. Mr. Singer then submitted • that it was not for him to show a preponderance of skill as. against chance. "The point is," said Mr. Singer, "is this game so little skilful that the question of skill be entirely eliminated? It is not how. good or bad it is. or how delightful or objectionable. The point is that practice, if-.it does not make perfect makes a person more skilful. I After further argument between magistrate, counsel and prosecutor Mr. Poynton reserved his decision in all cases.