GAMING HOUSE RAIDS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 175, 20 April 1929, Page 11

GAMING HOUSE RAIDS

ILLEGAL USE OF PREMISES SEVERAL MEN IN COURT Dominion Special Service. Auckland, April 19. As a sequel to a rail upon a number of alleged bookmaking establishments in the city yesterday, several men appeared in the Magistrate s Court to-day. Raymond Lewis, a clerk, aged 40, was-the first to be dealt with. He pleaded guilty when charged wi.li using premises in His Majesty s Arcade as a common gaming-house. “Lewis is in the employ of Clarne Russell, one of the three leading bookmakers of this city,” said DetectiveSergeant Kelly. “Russell is at present away on holiday. When the office was raided it was found to be fitted up with two telephones, while a quantity of betting material was found there. Lewis had £55 in cash on his desk, and the business is a big one of its kind. Lewis was . fined £lO in November last on a similar charge.” The Magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt: He got off light, then; this time he will be fined the maximum—£loo or three months’ imprisonment.” “Lewis would like time to pay, sir, said Mr. Kelly. “The trump card is on holiday.” '' “Certainly,” replied Mr. Hunt, he can have seven days.” Two men were charged with being unlawfully found on Lewis’s premises. One pleaded guilty. There was ho appearance of the other, the police stating that he was ill and could not attend. “What are they?” asked the Magistrate.

“Oh. two of the mugs who call at the place from time to time to make bets,” answered Detective-Sergeant Kelly. Both men were fined £2. Francis Brewer (41), another “clerk,” admitted using premises at 10 Vulcan Lane as a common gaming house, while Austin McCormick (33), who kept him company, pleaded guilty to assisting in the management of such a house.

Detective-Sergeant Kelly said Brewer’s office was also specially fitted up for receiving bets. There was a telephone, and McCormick was taking bets over the wire when the police said “Good morning.” The sum of £43 was found in the office on November 5, 1927 Brewer was fined £lOO on a similar charge?

“That was the maximum, so I suppose this time it will be a repetition,” added Mr. Kelly. “Oh, yes,” said the Magistrate. “I suppose the leopard cannot change its spots. He is fined £lOO or three months.”

McCormick, who had not been guilty of a breach of the Gaming Act previously, was fined £lO. Known as the “Busy Bee,” Robert Francis Bennett (45), described on the charge sheet as a clerk, was fined £lOO, or three months’ imprisonment. Bennett admitted he used premises in Swanson Chambers as a common gaming house. “The usual betting stuff we found at Bennett’s office yesterday," said Mr. Kelly. “Bets on the Whangarei races were being taken over the telephone when the detectives entered, and there was £4O Ils. -Id.in the office. .. ,■ ' “Bennett is known as the ‘Busy Bee,’ and is one of the biggest bettors in Auckland,” said the detective-sergeant. “He was last before the Court on February 24, 1928, when he was fined £25 for loitering for the purpose of betting.” Frederick James Dryland (27), who assisted Bennett, was fined £lO.