BOOKMAKING ALLEGED

Evening Post, Volume 50, Issue 50, 27 August 1926, Page 8

BOOKMAKING ALLEGED

TOBACCONIST BEFORE COURT

HAID BY DETECTIVES.

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.") CHKISTCHURCH, This Day. There was a large attendance at the Magistrate's Court this morning when' Alfred Vivian Whitta, a tobacconist in Cathedral square, was charged'with keeping a common gaming-house. When the detectives carried out the raid on 13th August there were .three men on Whitta's premises, and they were charged with being found in a common gaming-house. They were Albert Khouri, Benjamin' Stubbing, and John E. Cavanagh. Detective-Sergeant Young said that Whitta carried on a business as a bookmaker at the rear of his tobacconist shop. Witness had had the'shop under observation for eleven months. When the raid was made the door leading into the back of the shop was locked but the detectives climbed over the counter, There was a fire burning in the room and evidences of burnt paper. The detectives commenced a search, and Whitta said, "It is all right; you won't find anythinj ou me." While the detectives were there Stubbing came in. He said that he had come to see if Happy Rosa was a good thing ■ for the first race. Later, the other two defendants came in and then a man named Christie. When told who the detectives were, Christie fainted. He fell on the floor, and had to receive attention. The detectives said that on race dayß there was a continual stream, of people entering the back room.

(Proceeding.)