NEW YEAR'S RAID.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1937, Page 5

NEW YEAR'S RAID.

ELLERSLIE GAMING HOUSE. PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT FINED. t As a sequel to a raid carried out yesterday afternoon by Detectives Brady and Moore at Ellerslie, two men appeared in the Police Court this morning on a gaming charge. George Chapman, aged 52, billiard saloon keeper, was charged with using his premises as a common gnuing house, while Neil Morris, aged 21, was charged w'th assisting in the management of a common gaming house. Mr. Singer appeared for both men, who pleaded guilty. Detective-Sergeant McHugh said that as the result of complaints, inquiries were made by the police who found no difficulty on December 29 in making bets. Chapman was the principal, Morris merely assisting him. Chapman was not on the premises when a raid was carried out yesterday, but later *he called on the detectives and stated that Morris had been working for him. Yesterday 22 bets ranging from 2/6 to 10/ had been taken. > Both Chapman and Morris were men of good character. "The complaints received by the police were about betting only," said Mr. McHugh. Mr. Singer said Chapman was a married man with four children. For 32 years he had been in the one position, which he lost nearly a year ago when his employer put Ins sea into Chapman's job. Chapman had adopted the illegal method of supplementing his income. Neither of the men had been in any trouble in rhe past. Morris had been on sustenance and was merely earing a little extm money assisting Chapman. * ° "These men who U.mt tin !aw ought to be sports and tak-- their gruel when they are discover-;-.:," said Mr. OrrWalker, S.M. "MorrU has been foolish, but I don't want to penalise him too much. He can take this as a warning. He is fined £5." The magistrate fined Chapman £25. Both men were allowed one week in which to pay.