PENNY POKER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 10, 12 January 1934, Page 8

PENNY POKER.

GAME IN BILLIARD SALOON. . POLICE VISIT GLEN EDEN. In consequence of a surprise visit by the police to a Glen Eden billiard saloon shortly after 9 p.m. on Sunday. December 10, three men appeared before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Police i Court to-day on summons. 1 •Francis Claremont William Shadbolt j and Robert Andrews were each charged ] with being found in'the billiard saloon < at a tinle when it should have been t closed. William Roy Taylor was charged i that, being the manager *of a. public t billiard tfaloon, he permitted poker to c be , played, and that he aided Shadbolt ] in the commission of an offence. Detective-Sergeant McHugh eaid that 8 complaints were made to the police ] about gambling going on at the billiard } saloon, and •at 9.5 p.m. on Sunday, ( December 10, the police paid a surprise a visit and found that a game of penny a poker was in progress Mr. Wyvern Wilson: Must it not be a game* of billiards or other game , that has to l>e played after hours, to constitute an offence under the Police Force Act, under -which these charges are brought? He must keep his saloon closed, but must not allow: billiards or any other game to be played? ■ ■• "They were gambling, sir," said Mr. McHugh. Mr. Wileon: Yes, but that's under another Act. "This* was clearly a game, of poker, f sir." said Mr. McHugh. '■ Mr. Wilson: Well, it does not come T within the section of the Act. If there; ° was gambling going on there, then the- « Gaming Act must apply. The fir*t charge against Taylor will be dismissed. ] s Asked by the magistrate if lie desired f> to say anything.- Taylor said they only li went to the ealoon to- keep, off the] t> streets. The game of poker was only b played twice and there was no practice, v On the second charge Taylor was fined' £1 and costs. ' . Shadbolt and Andrews were eacn ordered to pay the costs, 10/. ' Shadbolt, in asking for leniency, said he was a relief worker and was' married and had one child. • It was the first time h'e had ever be<>n in trouble. "What you have just told me really makes the offence worse," said the I magistrate. "If yon are a relief worker ■ and have a family your place is at home looking after theni, instead of playing poker in billiard saloons."