FINED £200

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 134, 2 March 1921, Page 6

FINED £200

A BOOKMAKER CAUGHT AUCKLAND DETECTIVES ON THE TRAIL ARREST IN A FRUIT SHOP By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, March 1. Setting out on the trail of suspected bookmakers yesterday afternoon. Detective Sergeant Hammond and Detective Sullivan marked down a motor-car standing in Shortland Street, and a man who was-adjacent thereto, as likely subjects for investigation, in view of the variety of outward forms taken by modern bookmaking in Now Zealand. Consequently both the man, Cornelius M'Devitt (aaed 33), and the motor-car were taken into custody and submitted to an examination that resulted in M'Devitt’s arrest on a charge of carrying on the illicit business of bookmaking.

Immediately afterwards the defectives hastened to a fruit shop in Symonds Street, h,nd there took cilarge of an employee, Charles Lawson (aged 54). A ring at the shop telephone took Detective Hammond to the machins at this stage. "That you. Charlie?” inquired a voice over the wire. "Yes," responded the detective. "Righto! dll Infante, and if funds <£l Nunenunt.” ordered the voice, adding: "Look out. Charlie, there's a scare on, and Con M'Devitt’s pinched.’ The detective decided to spread the scare, so he replied: "Yes, Charlie’s pinched, too. and you will be pinched presently.’ Lawson camo before Mr. Poynton. SAI., this morning charged that he carried on business as a bookmaker, and that he kept No. 225 Symonds Street for the purpose of gaming within the meaning of the Gaming Act. He stated that, he did not quite appreciate the position, as he- had been informed that the charge of keeping a gaming house wos to be withdrawn. The chief detective: IFTie admits being a bookmaker. I shall not go on now with the other charge, and will report thp matter to my superior officers. His Worship: Are both charges on the same facts? The chief detective: Yes. sir.

"In that event,” explained tho Magistrate to ithe defendant, "the police are not likely to proceed with tho second charge if they get a conviction on the other. They never do." Defendant: If they . miss you on the swings they catch you on the roundabout. Defendant pleaded guilty, electing n,ot to go to the Supreme Court, and Detective Hammond detailed the circumstances of the arrest and of tho conversation on tho telephone. Defendant stated that he did not own or lease the fruit shop, but was an employee there, and had been employed there for about, fourteen years. He had now lost his employment. He said he was 55 years of ago and had no means. . Tho Magistrate convicted defendant, and fined him -£2OO. in default six months’ imprisonment, but allowed him 21 days in which to find the money. Cornelius M'Devitt pleaded "not guilty ’ to a charge of carrying on business as a bookmaker, and elected to go to the Supreme Curt for trial. He was remanded on bail for a week.