A GAMING CHARGE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 102, 27 October 1925, Page 6

A GAMING CHARGE

RESULT OF A RAID,

(BI IFLEQIUPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) _

PALMERSTON N., This Day.

Arising out of a raid by the police yesterday, Alfred Granville Shearsby (30) appeared before Mr. Stout, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court this morning on a charge that, on 26th October, at Palmerston North, and at divers dates, between 10th October and 26th October, being the occupier of 63, Chehvood street, ho did use such place as acom•mon gaining house. Accused, through his solicitor, Mr. Ongley, pleaded guilty. "This man," said counsel, "admits the offence ■with which he is charged. All I can sa.y in extenuation is that he is not one of-the big men, nor is he of an aggressive type- Ho has not caused any troublo to the- police, and does not frequent the town or hotels for the purpose of belting. He is a man who bears an oxcellent character, and never previously has he been before the Court on any charge." Detective-Sergeant Quirke said the accused had been belling for a considerable time, being in a. fnirly largo way of business. When the raid was made yesterday by tho police he had taken £47 in bets over .the telephone in an hour and a quarter. Accused had nl?o been doing fairly large business in the country mid had a Post Office box under'(he name of "Anderson." Ho had an clubornte code arrangement, for doing business with various places ill tho North Island. Owing to the largo scale on which the accused was doing business he would ask for the maximum fine to bo imposed. In imposing the maximum fine of £100, the Magistrate said tho accused would have been liable to a crenter penalty if he had been charged with bookmaking.