SILVER BETTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 69, 23 March 1931, Page 3

SILVER BETTERS.

TWO MEN FINED £10.

INDIAN DENIES "WELSHING,"

"EVIDENCE" UNDER LINOLEUM,

The two men arrested by Detectives Nalder and Packman on Saturday for offences under the Gaming Act, William Frederick Doolan (42), a billiard marker, and Shiv Prasard (27), an Indian fruiterer, came before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Police Court this morning. Doolan, for whom Mr. F. D. McLiver appeared, pleaded guilty to a charge of carrying on the business of a bookmaker. Detective-Sergeant Kelly said Doolan 'was found in the bar of a hotel perusing a double chart. He had taken 12 straight-out bets of 2/6 each and had laid 48 small doubles. He made a profit of £12 5/. Doolan was only a silver better. In 1927 he was fined £25 for bookmaking.

_ "Since 1927 Doolan, has given up betting," said Mr. McLiver, "but for the last 14 weeks his little girl has been laid up with injuries sustained when she was badly burned in a fire. His wife has also been out working in an effort to keep the home going.°Doolan has been working until recently, when ho took a few bets."

_ Mr. Hunt: Where has he been working?—He was helping a carrier for a couple of days. "I knew he had not been working," said the magistrate, with a smile. "Helping a carrier for two days!" Counsel said that Doolan was not well off financially. Mr. Hunt: Well, he showed a profit of £12 on Saturday. He's fined £10, or ono month's imprisonment." That's £10 to the Consolidated Fund and £2 to you, Mr. McLiver. (Laughter.)

Prasard, who was represented by Mr. R. A. Singer, admitted using premises at 115, Wellington Street, as a common gaming house.

"This case came under the notice of the police as the result of him 'welshing* a man for his money," said Detective Sergeant Kelly. "When the detectives visited his shop on Saturday, Prasard denied strongly that he had been, taking bets. However, a search revealed a considerable quantity of betting material under the linoleum."

Mr. Singer said Prasard denied that he had "welshed" anyone. "My client is a first offender and also in a smaller way of business than the last man whom, your Worship fined £10," said Mr. Singer. "I suggest that the least you can do is to halve that." . .

Mr. Hunt: Ho, I will make it the same, £10, or one month. (Laughter.) Defendants were allowed time to pay.