COMMON GAMINGHOUSE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 296, 13 September 1927, Page 6

COMMON GAMINGHOUSE

SHANNON SHOPKEEPER FINED MAXIMUM PENALTY Palmerston North, September 12. Another case of keeping a common gaming house, this time at Shannon, was dealt with by Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, when Harold Edward Hook, of Shannon, was fined £lOO, the maximum penalty provided for under the Act. The case for the police was conducted by Senior Detective Quirke, who stated that for some, time Hook had been carrying on a gaming house at his premises in Plimmer Terrace, where he had a hairdresser’s and tobacconist’s establishment, run in conjunction with a billiard saloon.

On Saturday last the police visited these premises on a search warrant. No bets had been taken on that day, but a search revealed books and accounts relating to previous transactions. In one book there were 38 bets recorded as being, taken on one. day, while records showed that between January 3 and January 27 last over £5OO in bets was taken by defendant. Under these circumstances, said Detective Quirke, he would ask that the maximum penalty of £lOO should be imposed. Defendant pleaded guilty to the charge, but claimed that of recent months he had been doing very little betting. Previously he had been taking bets as ?rt agent for a firm in Palmerston North.

The Magistrate: You seem to have been carrying on this business for a considerable time.

Defendant: Oh, yes. I have been doing it for some time. “You know it is an illegal business at the present time,” remarked the Magistrate. “I am afraid you will have to be fined £100.” The maximum penalty was accordingly imposed, costs amounting to 15s.