THE GAME OF HAZARDS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1031, 21 January 1911, Page 8

THE GAME OF HAZARDS

POLICE RAID ON THE BREASTWORK. SIX PLAYERS FINED. . As a result -of tho police raid on the breastwork oil"Wednesday afternoon last, ten men, named William Brown, William Ham, Charles Kern-in, William Morgan, John l'otglaso, Ernest Powell, Joseph Ruddy, Thomas Janies son, William Spindle', and Alfred George Sutton, were . charged at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Dr. 31' Arthur, with unlawfully playing a game of chance,, called hazards,"at the breastwork, Queen's Wharf,, on January IS. Potglase, Powell, Buddy,' Stimpson, Spindle, and Sutton pleaded guilty. Brown, Morgan, ,and jferwin pleaded, not 'guilty. Sub-Inspector Norwood prosecuted. Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared for Brown, and Mr. E. J. Fitzgibbon .for Morgan, but Kcrwin, and those that pleaded guilty, were'not represented by counsel. , The.', case against William Ham was adjourned until Tuesday next, on the application of Mr. E. J. Fitzgibbon, who stated that ho had not yet had time to .prepare the defence.-Sub-Inspector_Norwood stated, that there were previous convictions against Spindle and Sutton. The former had twice' beeii convicted.'of playing ■-"twoup," and the latter, had once been convicted- qn' .a similar charge. . Spindle had been ,seen' staking' the.-money, and was apparently?'tKo ringleader .'of; the game. Hie other men were the players. The magistrate'' informed defendants that they'-were : liablo.;to a fine of £50 or three ' month's' imprisonment, and advised them to give up the practica of playing hazards. He thought it was thoughtlessness on their pa*rt as much as anything. Spindle was fined.'.£s,.'witli costs 75., in default one month's imprisonment. Sutton was fined £4, with costs 75., in default 14 days' imprisonment. Each 'of the. other : defendants that had. pleaded guilty was fined £3, and costs 75., lyith the alternative..of. 14: days' imprisonment. All,: but' Spin-, die, were allowed until January .-28' to find the money. . . : ' - Tho cases of the three ; defendants, that had pleaded not guilty, were taken together by consent'; of the'parties. The first witness'-called for-the prosecution 'w'aSr 1 Constable -Thompson, who,; stated that on .Wednesday afternoon-he was instructed to vi_sit'-'tho:bredstworkV with Constable Mullooly,. arid the two of them went to tho Sailors' Rest "at about ,2.20 p.m. Outside there they observed ?i group, of men congregated. .Witness and Constable Mullooly then' went to the second floor of tile" Customs Buildings, and watched tho group for over 'au hour. The moil, in tho' group w;ero gathered round a small ring, and .were playing with dice. Spindle was taking tho money, nnd appeared to be in'charge of the game. Brown, Kcrwin,and Morgan were ahiong the group, but; as far as witness could see Kerwin only passed Is. into tho game.To Mr.. O'Leary.; Brown was not in the group when, the raid.- was made. He had gone away'with Spindle. -Witnesswas sure Brown had b'edn' playing;. ■- • ; To Mr<.-K%giblKiq)-Vwi l hewas sure .-Morgan,Ywa'si'.pldying among, the group at abouti'S; p.m. Constable Mullooly evidence.. ' t ■ For the defence,Ernest'Pflwell. said, lie had known the defendant Brown by sight for about 'two years past..- Wit T ncss was present at tho ' "game" on Wednesday from 1 pim. until the timo he, was ""pinched." He was-.positive" ,Bi-own was not there. ■ . In answer to Sub-Inspector Norwood,: witness 'Said he could see everyone:who was playing. He could not see.;. the -"breathers," the people •at the ' back .looking on. After, each throw he 'would' .look round to pollect 'his "hoot," andhe might have looked'occasionally to'see, ■if"the "Johns" were coming. '. To Mr. O'Leary, Powell stated that if Brown had played for an hour ■ bo(Powell) must havo seen him. ' Win. Brown,-defendant, 'stated -that on AVednesday afternoon lio was at the .Sailors' Rest looking for work.. He was downstairs. once>, or twice, but ; , dejiied, taking paft-i.n.-.'tho 'Otlier. wit-, nesses for the, .defence..iiweronsJoseph'; Konny and Jbhii 'Kebgh.'"'"': v Wm. Morgan,; .another; defendant',*', , stated that ho had . been.'iri the. vicinity ,'on. the afternoon, but took no part,in tho game. In fact he . had been engaged discharging timber from tlio Jano Douglas until 3.30 p.m.-that day. Evi-. denco was brought to satisfy the Court on this.matter. '. " . • Charles Kerwin,'the third defendant that pleaded not guilty,-admitted that ho' was near the gamo and watched tlio play, but denied taking any part, in the. betting. '"■The magistrate remarked that it was possible .that some mistake . had been made abo.ut Brown and Morgan. There, was some doubt about it, and the iuforinations would be' therefore, dismissed. His Worship, was .prepared to.'give . Kerwin the-, benefit : of. tho doubt, and the' ' dismissed;. also'., '