HIS THIRD OFFENCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 74, 29 March 1943, Page 4

HIS THIRD OFFENCE

BOOKMAKER SEXT TO GAOL.

"The law allows you to lay bricks, but not to lay odds," said Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., in the Police Court to-day to John Roland Howe, aged 46, a contractor, who pleaded guilty to a charge of carrying on the business of a bookmaker on March 20. Detective-Sergeant - Trethewey described Howe as "a bricklayer by trade, but a bookmaker by occupation," and added that Howe had been making a habit of betting in a city hotel. Since he was fined £50 in October, 1941, Howe had been carrying on his illegal occupation. Appearing for accused, Mr. J. Terry produced considerable evidence showing that Howe had been constantly employed in executing essential and important work by contract on air raid shelters and other works. Counsel, added that Howe's bookmaking activities were only casual on Saturdays: Remarking that this was Howe's third offence, under the Gaming Act, Mr. Luxford said he must draw the inference that he had deliberately decided tc. break the law. A sentence of one month's imprisonment with hard labour was passed.