“THE LAST FINE"

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 149, 19 March 1921, Page 13

“THE LAST FINE"

PATERSON TO PAY £lOO PRIVATE HOTEL AS GAMING HOUSE The maximum fine of .£lOO was imposed in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on James Paterson, found guilty of having on November 29-last, and on divers dates, used the Star Private Hotel as a common gaming-house; also of being found on the Hutt Park racecourse while •prohibited (un'ler section 33 of the Gaming Act) from admission to racecourses. Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., was on the bench. Chief-Detective Ward appeared for the police, and Mr. H. F. O Leary for the accused. . The prosecution was an af terma,h or the recent indictments against. Paterson of carrying on the business of a bookmaker, two juries disagreeing when tn case was heard in the Supreme Court. Paterson had been discharged, His Honour the Chief Justice refusing to ordei J On the suggestion of Chief-Detective Ward, the same evidence as in the Supreme Court action was brought, anc this Mr. O’Leary agreed, emphasising that the jurors had disagreed over th evidence at the trial in the higher court. "I am well acquainted with the evidence,” said the Magistrate Further evidence was that betting records found in the possession of the accused proved that between October 26 and December 8 last year, 1337 bets had ’’Tn reference to the charge of trespassing on the racecourse, Mr 0 Leary submitted that, without proof, the charge “Evidence was called by the chief-detec-tive, that Paterson was seen on the course bv Detective Nuttall, on Januaij 23, ' and, "because he was a was requested to leave. I w f l ® stated that Paterson had left, the> when asked and was not seen bettm n . accosted that he did not think he was committing an offence as he had not been convicted of bookmaking. Counsel said that Paterson, being not a convicted bookmaker, thought he had a right on the course. Ho 14-tt tl e course as soon as he was told lie not allowed there. I * nominal' penalty would meet the ca. . said Mr. O’Learv. ' Regarding the eTnrge of using the hotel as a common gaming-house, I submit that Pateieon. L, been before the Supreme Court, when the same evidence was P rodu< and the jnrier disagreed. . Paterson has a business and he has carried it on well. Counsel referred to the bets made ■ being "a little extra money, for the comfort of his family.” The bets made were very small. Paterson was a roan of good character, and had not been previously convicted. . In giving his decision. His Woiship said- "Paterson has had two starts and two wins, and this tirrte he cannot complain. He is Hable to three months imprisonment. . . . However, I will im pose the maximum penalty, £lOO , v i h costs, on the charge of using the private hotel as a common gaming-house, am for trespassing on the racecourse he will be fined .£2, and costs. I know the evidence did not convince the juries but it does convince me. . • . An<l . the last occasion on which I impose fines on eonyicted bookmakei-s.