GAMING RAID.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 25, 31 January 1933, Page 12

GAMING RAID.

ARREST IN CITY.

SEVEN PEOPLE IN COURT.

FINES TOTAL £214,

Fines totalling £214 were imposed in the Police Court to-day on seven persons arrested on Saturday, when a ° r iiinin lT house in Tjnion Buililings, Customs Street, was raided by Detectives Brady, Moore, Hayes and Whitehead. Douglas Hipkins, tobacconist, was charged with using premises as a common gaming house, and John Henry Weaver (32), agent, and Zoo Purdy (34), clerk, each with assisting in the management of a common gaming house. Mr. B. Goldwater appeared for all three, who pleaded guilty. Detective-Scrgeant Martin described the raid, which occurred shortly after 11 a.m. Hipkins was found seated at a table downstairs taking bets over the telephone, while the other two accused were found in an office upstairs. Four men who were in the small room off Hipkins' tobacconist's shop were arrested also.

Mr. Goldwater said Hipkins had only purchased the shop a week ago. He was not in a large way of business, and there was no suggestion that anything was unfair or that there had been any "welching." He had been tempted to augment his earnings by taking a few bets. Referring to the other two who were charged, Mr. Goldwater said tliey were merely clerks and not principals.

Detective-Sergeant Martin said they were not employed by Hipkins.

"All have been fined for the same offences before," said the magistrate, Mr. W. li. McKean. "On January 13, when Weaver was before me for publishing a double chart, it was said he was giving the game up—"

Mr. Goldwater: Yes, he is, too. He was only clearing up before getting out of it.

"These people know the risk they are running," said the magistrate. "Apparently this business is conducted on a fairly large scale."

Hipkins was fined £100, Weaver £60. and Purdy £50. In each case time was allowed in which to pay.

John Dare (50), labourer, Robert Johnson (51), seaman, Edward Colebert (59), waterside worker, and William Rudd (48) chef, who were unlawfully found on the premises of a common gaming house, were each fined £1 and were allowed one week in wliich to pay.