BOOKMAKER IN COURT

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22656, 10 March 1939, Page 8

BOOKMAKER IN COURT

MAN CONVICTED AT TIMARU FINE OF £25 IMPOSED Alfred Theophilus Huston, aged 65, was fined £25 at a sitting of the Magistrate’s Court, Timaru, yesterday, before Mr H. Morgan, S.M., on a charge of having carried on the business of a bookmaker. Detective-Sergeant E. M. Thomas said that accused, who was a widower, had carried on business as a bookmaker some years ago. The last occasion upon which he had been fined for such an offence was four years ago, the fine being £2O. Shortly after this his wife died, and accused gave up bookmaking. He had to assist to support a married son who had three children, find a daughter, who was a semi-invalid, and he had to pay for the medical treatment of the latter. Recently Huston started bookmaking again in a small way. On the day of his arrest there were six meetings throughout the Dominion. Huston was arrested late in the day, when most of the bets would have been laid. There were 12 bets recorded in his racing book, the largest of which was for 10s, the total being £4. Three of the beta written were winners; the day had not been a very profitable one for him. When arrested Huston had about £5 in his possession. He did not enjoy the best of health. In fining Huston as stated, the Magistrate allowed him a month in which to pay.