HOTEL BOOKMAKERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 301, 20 December 1937, Page 8

HOTEL BOOKMAKERS.

THEIR FIRST OFFENCE.

TWO MEN FlifED £25.

Making their first appearance in the Police Court to-day, Clement Victor McManemin (45), stable hand, and Alfred Drinnan (40), a labourer, were dealt with by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., on a charge of carrying on the business of a bookmaker on December 18.

Concerning McManemin, DetectiveSergeant McHugh said he had been taking bets in a city hotel, and had made a bet with a plain clothes constable. He had been laying doubles as well as straight-out betting, and had never been in any trouble before. When arrested, McManemin, who was a single man, had £9 18/6 in his possession. On behalf of accused, Mr. J. Terry said McManemin had only been acting as an agent. "He has been obliging those optimistic customers who think they can pick winners of Saturday races and he has recently drifted into doing this owing to suffering from malignant malaria and a weak heart as a result of war service," counsel added.

McManemin was fined £25.

"Bets in Two Hotels."

"This man bets in two different hotels," said Detective-Sergeant McHugh about Drinnan, who also pleaded guilty. "He lays doubles and does straight-out betting, and when arrested he had £3* on him."

Mr. F. W. Schramm pointed out that Drinnan was a man of good character who had not been carrying on long, and was only in a small way. Drinnan, too, was fined £25.