RAID BY DETECTIVES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 306, 27 December 1928, Page 3

RAID BY DETECTIVES.

ON GAMING HOUSES.

SEVERAL MEN ARRESTED,

HEAVY FINES IMPOSED

While many were at Ellerslie yesterday trying to pick winners a number of detectives were busy in the city trying <<» pick up bookmakers. They were successful and arrested several men on gaming charges. As the result of the appearance of the men at the Police Court this morning the Consolidated 1' und will benefit, to quite a considerable extent. Ernest Haniley, a barman, aucd 30, for whom Mr. Singer appeared, pleaded guilty when charged with having carried on the business of a bookmaker. Chief Detective Hammond said Haniley was a barman and had supplemented his earnings bv running a double at £20 to He was only carrying o»i ill a small way. Mr. Singer stated that Hamley was a married man who had been down in his luck lately, so he thought he would increase his slender earnings by these illegal means. Mr. E. C. Cutter), S.M., fined him £10. Fined £75 Again. 1 hen there was Archibald Anderson (27), charged with using premises at 115, Hobson Street, as a common gaming house. William McMillan (51) was charged with assisting Anderson in the management. Both pleaded guilty. "Anderson and McMillan have a small tobacconist's shop in Hobson Street, fitted up with a telephone," said Mr. Hammond. "A quantity of betting material was there by detectives yesterday. They have been going about two years. Anderson in June last was fined £75 for a similar charge in connection with the same premises, and this was a pretty good fine considering the amount of business he was doing. He was also fined £23 once before for assisting in the management of the same place. McMillan is only working on wages for him. Neither are what you would call leviathan bookmakers." Anderson was again fined £75, while McMillan was mulcted £25. They were allowed to wait until the banks are open before paying their contributions. The other bookmaker was Richard John Healev (42). All that he had to say in answer to the charge of carrying 011 the business of a bookmaker was "guilty." He had nothing else to say. "Healey is a foreman or a ganger in the Railway Department and works at Newmarket," said Mr. Hammond. "He calls in at the Newmarket hotels at five o'clock each night and does a bit of betting until about six, when he leaves for home." Mr. Cutten thought this was worth £25 and ordered Healey to pay this sum into Court. Unusual Attitude Adopted.

Thomas James O'Hagan (38), a painter, pleaded not guilty to a charge of being found without lawful excuse on the premises of a common gaming house.

Detective Xalder said that when he went to Anderson's shop yesterday with a warrant O'Hagan was in the shop standing at the counter. He adopted an unusual attitude when asked for an explanation and told witness he had no power to detain him. O'Hagan was haughty and would not state why he was in the shop, so he was told to make his explanation in Court.

Asking for an adjournment so that he could obtain counsel to defend the charge, O'Hagan told Mr. Cutten he djd not go to the shop to make any bets. He went in for a packet of cigarettes, and while waiting to be served the detectives arrived and loeked the shop door, keeping him inside.

"He would not have been here this morning if he had given the detective an explanation in the shop," said Mr. Hammond.

In dismissing the charge, Mr. Cutten

tokl O'Hagan that he should have answered questions which were put to liirn, thus saving a lot of trouble.