AN UNSUSPECTING BOOKMAKER

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 149, 23 March 1928, Page 13

AN UNSUSPECTING BOOKMAKER

EXPLAINS SYSTEM TO CONSTABLE SEQUEL IN MAGISTRATE’S COURT Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, March 22. “You may be a detective, but no one could tell what the marks in my book mean,” unsuspectingly said Leslie Joseph Shadbolt to Plain 'Clothes Constable Anderson at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday last. Taking his "client’,’ further into his confidence, Shadbolt (explained in detail his system, the way he recorded his bets, the odds he gave, and gradually drew the net around himself. Constable Anderson bet with him, drank with him, and arranged his arrest. To-day Shadbolt appeared on remand before,Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., charged with bookmaking. Mr. C. S. Ihonias, for accused, pleaded not guilty. “Shadbolt was arrested beside the totalisator trying to beat it at its own game,” said Chief-Detective Carroll. Accused bet in amounts of half-a-crown and a little more, and for every 2s ; 6d. he made a little dot in his book. Each better was given a number which was noted under the dots. The race book used by accused, with its innocentlooking little dots and numbers, was produced in court. ‘‘The detectives made a bet,” went on the chief detective. Accused had £9 os. ll|d. in his possession. The detectives had made their bets with marked coins, which were found in accused’s possession. Accused had said that the marks in his book represented his investments on the totalisator. When arrested accused tried to drop the book to get rid of it, but it was retrieved. Constable Anderson said that on being introduced to Shadbolt he discussed horse racing. Accused, said he was open to take bets from 2s. 6d., and witness made a bet of ss. ' Shadbolt said, “Your betting number will be 12.” He put in his book two dots and under them the number 12. Fie said, “When you come for your dividend you must tell me your betting number or I won’t pay out.” When he saw witness after the race he said, “Y'ou had no luck, then.” Witness had two more bets without any luck, and accused invited him to have a look at his book. Accused then explained to witness the system under which he. operated. Detective Thompson was called, but after conferring with Shadbolt Mr. Thomas altered the plea to one of guilty. _ The chief detective said that accused was alleged to have been operating for some time and was stated to be a “bad mark” when paying out. Mr. Thomas said that accused was a returned soldier, who was married with two children, and was very ill with consumption. He had become hard up and tried to eke out his earnings by running a small book. He was only a silver better, and not knowing the game he had failed. He had become very hard up, but the charge made by the chief detective that he was practically a “welsher” was not true. One man had not been paid promptly and had made a row about it. Shadbolt had paid every other client but this man, who had made a row, and counsel thought that this was why he was in*the court. The man who had made the row had informed on him. Shadbolt was actually behind on his betting. The Magistrate said that the man had run a book in a small way and was fairly ignorant of the modus operand! of the real bookmaker. The Magistrate said he had his own opinion ou the totalisator, but there was nothing to be said for bookmaking, which engendered a very bad spirit and caused a great deal of trouble in many homes. Shadbolt was fined £lO, in default one month’s imprisonment. He was allowed a mouth in which to pay.