SENT TO GAOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 12, 15 January 1934, Page 8

SENT TO GAOL.

"LARGE" BOOKMAKER.

MAGISTRATE'S COMMENTS.

FINES NOT A DETERRENT.

"Bookmaking is a nuisance in the 00™!!!!!!]!!}', and it has got to be checked," said Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Police Court this morning, when he sentenced George Geelong Paul, aged 60, to one month's imprisonment for using premises in Palmerston Buildings as ft common gaming house. Mr.-Allan Moody appeared for Paul, who pleaded guilty. Detective-Sergeant Mcllugh said Paul had conducted an office in Palmerston Buildings as a common gaming house for some time. Complaints were received by the police, and as a result of evidence being obtained the office was raided under a search warrant 011 Saturday morning. Paul was conducting the place as a common gaming house in a large way. It was specially fitted up as such, and it had a telephone which was not listed. "The 'books seized by detectives 011 Saturday, on the day of the Thames races, show that ho took 154 bets totalling £68," said Mr. McHugh. "He is ono of the biggest bookmakers in Auckland, and the od<ls he gives are the largest in the city. While the detectives were searching the office they took one bet on Pegaway at the Wellington trots.

"This is not the first time lie lias been convicted. Twice previously lie has been fined £25 for assisting in the management, while in April of last year he was fined £50 for using the premises as a common gaming house. He was quite frank to the police about his betting." "An Honest Man." Mr. Moody said he took the responsibility of advising Paul to plead guilty and throw himself oil the mercy of the court. Paul was 60 years of age and was formerly an interpreter. He was not in a good state of. health. The conviction recorded against him last year was the first he had ever Had for using the premises as a common gaming house. Paul, as the police would admit, was an honest man who never at any time evaded his responsibilities. "With the utmost respect, I would urge the court to impose a fine in this case and not impose a term of imprisonment. I trust the court will be merciful to him," added counsel. "The primary object of the criminal law is to protect the community from criminals, and not to punish the criminal," said Mr. Wyvern Wilson. "The community should be protected against persons who make their living out of gaming houses. Keeping gaming houses is contrary to law and it is not a good circumstance—not a good feature in the community. It is a nuisance and has got to be checked. "The Only Way." "Paul has been connected with gaming houses for years, and has been mulcted substantial fines in the past. Yet I find he has one of the biggest gaming houses in Auckland. Is it going to protect the community if I ask him to pay a fine out of his riches? The only way to prevent men from getting their sustenance and their maintenance by openly breaking the. law is by imposing imprisonment. He will be sentenced to one month's imprisonment." Mr. Moody: Would your Worship reconsider your decision if my client gives an assurance that he will definitely stop? Mr. Wilson: I don't know whether he will stop when he comes out, but he is going to prison for a month. Bookmaker Fined £25. Max Charles Thorpe appeared on summons, charged with carrying on the business of a bookmaker on December 20. He was not represented by counsel, and pleaded guilty. Detective A. Moore gave evidence that defendant made a statement admitting that he had taken a few bets. He said that for the past three months he had been tinemployed and in ill-health and had only taken a few bets, all being of lialf-a-crown each. Detective Moore said Thorpe was quite frank and handed him his betting; slips. Thorpe told the magistrate he had nothing to say. Mr. Wilson said Thorpe was liable to a penalty of £500, or six months' imprisonment, on such a charge. The Legislature looked upon bookmaking as a menace in the community. It was evident that small fines did not stop the illegal practice. Thorpe would be fined £25, or one month's imprisonment. "Will you give me time to pay, sir?" asked Thorpe. "STo, I do not give time to pay," replied the magistrate. Other Cases Adjourned. With the exception of four men, charged with being found on premises of a common gaming house, who pleaded guilty and were each fined £2 and 10/ costs, all the other men arrested in the raids on Saturday were remanded to appear on Wednesday in the Policc Court. The following, charged with using premises as common gaming houses, were those remanded:—-Martin Joseph O'Connor (Mr. Wilson), Henry Clifton Sallery (Mr. Wilson), Jack Gilbert Hooper (Mr. J. Terry), and John Francis O'Connor and John Heard Ansell, for whom Mr. S. Tong appeared. Nine men who were found on the premises by the police were also remanded until Wednesday.

The remands were at the request of counsel for tho defendants. In each case bail was again allowed.