BET ON TEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 229, 27 September 1937, Page 9

BET ON TEST.

SEQUEL TO 5/ WAGER.

EDEN PARK ARREST. TWO MEN FINED £3 EACH. It all happened over a 5/ bet that the Springboks would win. This wager, laid at Eden Park on Saturday, was the prime cause of two men being arrested and taken from the crowd of over 50,000 by the police, according to what was said when Victor Norris (30), labourer, and George Wells (40), carpenter, appeared in the Police Court this morning and pleaded guilty to a charge of behaving in a disorderly manner while drunk. Sub-Inspector Fox said that two hours before the big match, when the crowd was dense, the two men were from time to time drinking from bottles which they had in a sack. One of them accused a bystander of refusing to give up money he was holding for a bet. An argument developed and both men continued to annoy the crowd. "Despite warnings given them by the police the trouble continued and the police had to push their way through the crowd and arrest both," added Mr. Fox.

Appearing for Norris and Wells, Mr. Ackins said Wells took a 5/ bet with a stranger that the Springboks would win. When it was obvious that the South Africans were going to win the stranger disappeared, and Norris was apparently struck by another man. "Obviously these two men had too much to drink on Saturday," said counsel. "In view of the importance of the day from a football point of view, I would ask vour Worship to treat them leniently." "There appears to be no mitigating circumstances at all," said Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M. ''These two men went out to Kden Park early with a large amount of liquor and then got drunk and quarrelsome." Each was fined £3.