AMATEUR BOOKMAKER ESCAPES FINE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 100, 22 January 1927, Page 4

AMATEUR BOOKMAKER ESCAPES FINE

COMMENTS BY MAGISTRATE BIG OPERATORS SHOULD BE ROUNDED UPDominion Special. Dunedin, January 21? ■ "When bookmakers are carrying on operations openly in the Dominion, it is a little harsh' that a man like this should be charged with bookmaking,” commented Mr. H. W. Bundle, S.M., when James St. Clair Oughton was charged, at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, with having carried on bookmaking at Wingatui on December 27 last. , , Oughton admitted the offence, but it was pointed out, both by Chief-De-tective Cameron and defendant’s counsel (Mr. B. S. Irwin) that he was onlv in a very small way. Mr. Irwin said that Oughton had a double chart, the odds being £lO to 2s. He collected 265., and had -not been "struck.” The Chief-Detective said the man was found on a racecourse on Boxing Dav.- He had a notebook in his pocket in which there were several entries telating to bets on ‘‘doubles.’ There was nothing previously known against defendant, who was in. permanent employment in Invercargill. Mr. Irwin said Oughton was not doing any bookmaking on the .course. He ran a small "double” amongst Ills friends; he. had no money, and his wages amounted to £4 ss. per week. Defendant had a wife and three children. Counsel suggested that the charge should "hang over his head, considering that this - would be better than the infliction of a fine. "It is a stupid thing to carry on bookmaking,” ' said the Magistrate,“but I see it is not suggested that you were in a big wav.” Air. Bundle added that defendant had very properly been brought before the Court, but it was unfortunate that some of the bigger men were not also rounded up. Defendant was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, iio penalty being inflicted..