"PAID OUT LIGHT."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 56, 7 March 1932, Page 8

"PAID OUT LIGHT."

BOOKMAKER IMPRISONED. NO WORK FOR FOUR YEARS. COMPLAINTS OF "WELSHING." "He's purely a welshing bookie, who has been living on tha sweat of working men," was the introduction made by Detective Sergeant Kelly, when Michael Patrick David Hayes, aged 32, appeared at the Police Court this morning. Hayes pleaded gui'.ty to charges of being an idle and disorderly person, with insufficient means of support, and of carrying on the business of a bookmaker. Detective Sergeant Kelly said Detective Moore arrested Hayes, who admitted that he had nut done any work for four yea'.o. He was known as a "welshing" bookmaker, and many complaints had been received by the police about him. "When arrested, he had a double chart in his possession, which showed that he had laid 42 doubles on the Pukekohe races on Saturday," added Mr. Kelly. "He had only 11/ on him, and he was 'struck,' so he Is now unable to pay out." Counsel for Hayes: Hayes denies that he's a "welshing" bookmaker. He has paid out light sometimes, that's all. Mr. Hunt: What'e the difference, anvway ? Detective Moore, in evidence, said numbers of complaints were heard about Hayes not paying out when "struck." He was often seen in company with a man who had been up for pocket-picking, and he had been drinking heavily. Counsel said accused was only in a small way of business as a bookmaker, and he was in a position to pay out.

Mr. Hunt: Well, he won't pay out for three months, anyway. He is a single man, and has not worked for four years. I'm not going to a'.low a big, hulking man, such as he is, to rob the people. Hayes was sentenced to three months' imprisonment.