GAMING-HOUSE CHARGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 81, 3 October 1944, Page 7

GAMING-HOUSE CHARGE

A fine of £5 was imposed on Alexander Katrangki, company manager, 31, by Mr. Jf X. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate's Courfe yesterday for being without lawful excuse in a common gaming-house at Quay on September 9. The accused pleaded riot guilty. Evidence was given by De-tective-Sergeants^ E* Compton and G. Callaghan regarding a raid they had made on the premises and the quent appearance in court of the occupier, Benjamin Briekman, who had pleaded guilty and had been fined for keeping a common gaming-house. They stated that the accused was in the room when they arrived and admitted that a race card, a double chart, and a sheet with betting entries on it was his property.

Mr. W. G. L. Mellish, who appeared for the accused, submitted that there was no evidence that the room, was used as a common gaming-house and the fact that Briekman had pleaded guilty was not evidence ■'.: against the accused. The accused stated in evidence' that he had gone to.Briekman to borrow his car, and while there had asked his advice' concern-, ing bets the accused had'^made with another bookmaker.

To Detective-Sergeant J. Thompson the accused admitted that lie had previously been disqualified by the New Zealand Racing Conference from. attending race meetings. x., When Mr. Thompson asleep the name of the bookmaker with whom the accused had placed his bets, Mr. Mellish strongly objected. , ."= "You cannot object to : perfectly fair question or put the witness up to object," said the Magistrate.;, "I object to the Court being turned into a detective inquiry office," replied Mr. Mellish. ;

The Magistrate ruled that the question could be put, but the -^accused stated that he did not wisL to in-; criminate anyone else, and refused to give the name.

At the conclusion of the accused's evidence he was convicted and fined.