BOOKMAKER AND POLICE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14562, 13 January 1913, Page 3

BOOKMAKER AND POLICE.

A MAGISTRATE'S ACTION

INDIGNATION IN WELLINGTON

(SPECIAL TO "THE VKESS"V

WELLINGTON. January 11

Thero ib considerable indignation on the part of a section of the public in Wellington at the action of Mr Kuldell, S.M., in connection with tho case against a bookmaker heard in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday. Practically ho objected to the action of Detective Cassolls in arresting tho bookmaker on a warrant instead of proceeding br a summons. Tho bookmaker had mado a bet with a constable, who was in plain clothes, and had led tho unsuspecting bookmaker to believe ho was a guileless civilian. Tho Magistrate apparently did not approve of this method of trapping a harmless bookmaker, and evidently considered that injury to tho bookmaker had been added to insult, when Detective Cassells got a J.P. to sigu the warrant for arrest. Tho point Ts that if a person is arrested on a warrant ho can bo searched, which course is not possible when proceedings aro taken by way ot" a summons. In this case, a search produced evidence which resulted in tho man's conviction and a heavy line, but tho Magistrate was so displeased at the action of tho police that he ordered another charge to bo withdrawn. For somo timo Detective oassolls lias mado the. lives of bookmakers decidedly unpleasant, and thoso who believo that tho law should bo observed and bookmakers prevented from plying their calling, consider Mr Riddcll went out of his way to afford protection, which was not warranted under tho circumstances. Tho "Wellington newspapers roundly condemn h,s decision, and it is suggested that tho Minister may be approached on tho subject.