SEQUEL TO RAIDS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 112, 14 May 1930, Page 12

SEQUEL TO RAIDS

BOOKMAKING ALLEGED

FINDLAY IN COURT

POLICE EVIDENCE

The preliminary hearing of the final case arising out of the recent concerted 'raid by the police on a. number of Wellington bookmakers \yas commenced before Mr. E. Page, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court to-day, when Stanley AVilliam Findlay, aged 41-,. who had. elected to be tried by jury, was charged with carrying on business as a-bookmaker. He was further charged on three counts with betting at totalisator" odds, but these summary charges were adjourned until after the major charge has been dealt with. Detective-Sergeant Holmes prosecuted, and Mr. W. B. Leicester appeared for the accused.' Constable H. E. .Campin said that, acting on instructions, he accompanied Constable Loekie to the. Te Aro Hotel on 12th/April, about'4.3o p.m; He saw' the accused sitting in a small office off the passage. , ' The Magistrate: "Is he a member of the staff of the hotel?". Witness: "To the best of my knowledgo he has no connection with the management of the hotel." BACKED A LOSER. The accused was^ sitting at a table with a pile of bank notes in front of him. Another visit was paid on 19th April. The two police officers went to a private bar, ; where the barman was asked if there was a chance of getting a bet. The barman whistled and the accused then came into the private bar from the- public bar. The barman said: "This is Mr. Findlay; he will fix you up." Witness then said, to the accused: "I want 10s on Dainty Ways in the second last race at Tauherenikau." The accused replied: ''Eight 0," and took a note book from his pocket and made the entry, with witness's initials. Witness then handed tho accused a 10s note, and left the bar. The horse- did not win. On 21st April, the witness went to the hotel about 3.30 p.m., and again saw the accused in the office..? Witness went in and again asked for 10s on Dainty Ways, and 10s on Te Awhina. Tho accused duly made tho entries,in his vnote book. Dainty Ways ran unplaced on the second day at Tauhorenikau, To Awhina winning at "tho Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting that day. At about 5 p.m. on 22nd April witness again went to the hotel and asked accused how much was coming from 10s on Te Awhina., The accused said the ■horse paid £2 18s, so witness had £1 9d to come. Tho accused asked witness hawj many bets he had had and when told three, replied that he was dubious about betting with strangers. Witness said that he worked in town and lived at Brooklyn, whereupon theaccused commented'that1 the hist time ho had been caught it was a remarkable thing that it .had been by a probationer living at Brooklyn. Witness said he would have to go v as he was in a hurry and as he was leaving the accused called out: "It's all right then, you're not a bobby." On 26th April witness again went to the hotel and asked for 10s on Shine On. The accused, said: "Look 'here, old man, I don't know you, and I don't like-betting with strangers." He asked if there was anyone about who knew witness and when witness said that there was not the accused said: "I am sorry. I'd like to take your money, but I can't." Later on the same day the accused went through the hotel and s^aw tho accused in tho office. On going outside lie saw Detectives Murray and Robinson enter the hotel. To Mr. Leicester, witness said that he was a constable employed on detective duties. On each occasion ho visited the hotel it wasunder tho instructions of the Inspector of Police. He went there for tho purpose of getting evidence.of bookmaking against Findlay. The money ho.received from Findlay was handed over to Detective-Ser-geant Holmes who had previously supplied tho funds with which to do'the betting. '» Counsel: "I suppose you hadn't got tho result of the race at the time you made the bet?" (Laughter.) Witness: 'Certainly not." "Do you know the bet was made thirty-eight minutes after the race was concluded?"—"l would be very surprised to hear that." > ! Counsel: "Yes, so would we all."] (Laughter.) The Magistrate- "Do you know if that is correct, Mr. Leicester?" Counsel: "Well, it says so in the book which has been handed in as the correct one." Constable F. C. Loekio corroborated tho evidence of Constable Campin. He said ho had attempted to make a bet with the accused on 21st April, but the accused had replied that ho did not b'ot with strangers. BETTING MATERIAL rOUND. Detective W. R. Murray said ■ that on 26th April he and Detective Robinson arrested the accused on warrant on a charge of carrying on business as a bookmaker. On receiving a signal from Constable Campin, the two detectives entered tho Te Aro Hotel and arrested the accused. When searched, tho accused had £46 in notes and £1 11s 5d in cash in his possession. In tho room where the accused was arrested, just as he was leaving it, were two tables, on one of which was a telephone. Alongside the telephone was a' day card for tho Avondalo Meeting with tho winner and second horso of tho first race marked off. In. a cupboard witness found a quantity of betting material, including betting slips, settling sheets, and notebooks containing entries of bets and doubles for theAvondale Meeting. There wero also found a number of double charts, including a home-made one for tho Ayondalo Mcctin- of that day. In witness's opinion, there was no doubt that the handwriting found in the betting material was that of tho accused. Asked if ho would like to make any explanation, the accused replied that tho betting material was not his and ho had nothing further to say until ho had consulted his solicitor. While Detectivo Robinson was absent from the room the accused said to witness: "I picked your man all right. I had my suspicions about him, but I did not pick him quick enough." Cross-examined, Detective Murray said that no part of tho betting material was found on tho accused's person. Counsel: "I presume you wouldn't set yourself up as a handwriting expert?" Witness: "No one should, do that, but I consider there is little doubt in this case." Detective-Sergeant Holmes said he had known the accused for four years. He had como prominently under notice some three years and a half ago, and at short intervals since that time. The accused followed the occupation1 of a bookmaker during that time and had no other known' occupation. • Mr. Leicester objected .to the evidence of Detective-Sergeant Holmes going in, but the .Magistrate considered it was permissible. Counsel's objection was, however, noted.' This concluded the evidence for the prosecution. The accused pleaded not guilty and, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed in Ms own bond of £100, and a- deposit of' £100 or a surety, of .£.,100.