"GAMBLING DEN"

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 38, 15 February 1937, Page 8

"GAMBLING DEN"

A SATURDAY RAID. i THREE MEN CHARGED. ONE FINED FIFTY POUNDS. POLICE ALLEGATIONS. i Allegations that the Reservoir Billiard Saloon, No. 3, Great Xorth Road, which was raided on Saturday afternoon by Detectives F. Brady and A. Moore, was one of the worst gambling dens in the city were made by Detective-Sergeant A. G. McHugh in Police Court this morning when one of the three men arrested when the search warrant was executed pleaded guilty to a charge of assisting in the management of a common gaming houje. Accused wa Sylvester Pickett, I labourer, aged 33. He pleaded guilty. i Mr. F. W. Schramm appeared for j Pickett. j Detective Sergeant McHugh said the detectives raided the saloon about three o'clock on Saturday afternoon. Pickett was there. On January 29 a constable, j sent to detect breaches of the Gaming ( Act, had no difficulty in placing three f>/ bets with Pickett. Again, on Saturday the same constable returned and made two further bets. Pickett was employed by a man named Zambucka, who held the license of the billiard saloon. "A, pretty fair business is being done in betting there, and we have had numerous complaints about the place," said Mr. McHugh. "It is looked .upon as one of the worst gambling deus in the city owing to the encouragement given to young fellowe, most of whom are on sustenance. Quite a lot of drinking has been going on there, too. On Saturday the detectives found a number of empty bottles and a keg of beer. Pickett is no stranger to tho Court, and has been here recently over gaming cases. Wo have evidence to show that he is the principal in running gaming schools on the waterfront." Not "Welshed" Anyone. The liquor found by the detectives on Saturday was liquor that was to be taken to a party, said Mr. Schramm. There was no suggestion that liquor was being sold in the saloon. Pickett was a billiard marker, and it was true that he had been betting as a means of supplementing his income. "I don't think he can be blamed for all that has been stated by the police," counsel added. "There has never been any suggestions or complaints that anyone has be*n "welshed" by Pickett, who was- an honest man in his betting transactions. That much is in his favour." The magistrate. Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, said he must take notice of what the police had said about the premises in relation to gambling, and that young men had been encouraged there. "However, I don't think they need much encouragement these days," Mr. Orr Walker said. "Pickett's list shows that he has played games of chance. Although he is not the principal of this place he must be fined a substantial sum." Pickett was fined £f>o. He was allowed a month in which to pay, and was ordered to report himself twice weekly to the police until the amount is paid.

Alleged Occupier Remanded. Also arrested on Saturday during the same raid, Toofee Michael Zambucka, aged 27, was charged that, on January 29, being the occupier of premises known as the Reservoir Billiard Saloon, he used them as a common gaming house. On the application of Mr. F. W. Schramm, who appeared for accused, Zambucka was remanded for one week. The magistrate extended his bail. In addition to a charge of being found on the premises of a common gaming house, a labourer, William Leonard Donovan, aged 26, was further charged with carrying on the business of a bookmaker on Saturday. Mr. Schramm represented Donovan, who admitted the charges. Detective-Sergeant McHugh said the detectives found Donovan in the saloon when they raided it. When searched he was found in possession of betting material and two home-made double charts. These showed that he had laid 95 doubles, the odds being £2 10/ to 1/. He frankly admitted the breach. Donovan explained that he was a single man on sustenance, and that he had taken up betting to make a little extra money. "We have not had any complaints about him," said Mr. McHugh. "There is no doubt that he is a budding bookmaker setting out in a Digger way." Mr. Schramm pointed out that Donovan was a man of excellent character, with no previous convictions. Donovan was fined £20 on the second charge and £2 on the first, and was allowed one month in which to pay the fines. WAR PENSIONER REMANDED. Edward Byers, asred 41, a w:r pensioner, arrested by Detectives Brady and Moore on Saturday morning on a charge of carrying on the business of a bookmaker on Februarv 0. appoired before Mr. C. B. Orr Walker, S.M., in the Police Court this morning. Mr. E. Wright appeared for Byers, who was remanded on counsel's application to appear on February 18. Bail was renewed.