GAMBLING IN HOTEL

Evening Star, Issue 19326, 12 August 1926, Page 11

GAMBLING IN HOTEL

A LITTLE POKER PASTY [Per United Press Association.] HASTINGS, August 11. A midnight poker party in a Hastings hotel recently resulted in the appearance before the magistrate (Mr R. M • Oyer) this morning of the licensee and the members of the “ school.” James Frederick Le Seur, licensee of the Albert Hotel, was charged as follows:—(1) Oh July 18, being the licensee of the Albert Hotel, he permitted gambling on the premises; (2) opening his premises for the sale of liquor during prohibited hours; '(3) selling lid 110 !- to E. Mendelsohn, during prohibited hours. At the request of the police the second charge was withdrawn. Defendant pleaded guilty to the two remaining charces. Sergeant Hogan said that a man named South went to the Albert Hotel on the evening of Saturday, July 17, accompanied by one named Ware. They went into a sitting room, and found Mendelsohn there. They started a game of poker, and were later joined by F. Slater, who was a boarder in the hotel. About 11 o’clock Lo Seur came in and stood behind South, helping him with his game. Later G. H. Slater joined the party and took a hand for one of tho players for a time. During the evening several rounds of drinks were served. Between 5 and 6 o’clock in the morning all went downstairs. There was some discussion about settling up, but this was finally adjusted. Mendelsohn shouted a bottle of champagne, and all went home. On the following morning South, who, it appeared, was not satisfied with the way ho had been treated, visited the police station and laid a complaint, as the result of which the charges were brought. Mr L. A. Rogers, for the defendant, said the facts were fairly stated by the prosecution. Tho mon had apparently taken French leave of the sitting room until about 11 o’clock, when lie Seur found them there. Theoretically ho should have ordered them to leave immediately, but, unfortunately, he did not. Some wore winning and some were losing, and he allowed them to play on. He had been the holder of a publican’s license for eight years, and during that time had not had one personal conviction against him. _ One of his barmen had once been convicted for supplying a young roan under twentyone years with liquor. _ Mr Rogers submitted the letter received by Its Seur when he was licensee of the Rutland Hotel, Wanganui, from Mr Day, S.M., speaking highly of the manner in which the hotel had been conducted. His Worship: Do you know anything against this, Sergeant Hogan? The Sergeant: So far as the hotels are concerned there is only the conviction of his barman. His Worship: But apart from the hotels? Tho Sergeant; He is not allowed on any racecourse. HLs Worship: It appears that gambling is his trouble. Ido not think a man is fit to hold a license who countenances this sort of thing. If I endorse his license it will bo with the idea of getting him out. Is he intending to get out, Mr Rogers? Mr Rogers: Ido not think tho police are asking for that. His Worship: It is not what the police ask for. . It is what I think is right. Mr Rogers: It is his first offence. It does not appear that he makes a practice of allowing gambling in his hotel. His Worship; Does he make a practice of it? Sergeant Hogan; Not to my knowledge. His Worship: I am not sure that I am not being too lenient, but I will give him another chance. If he comes up again he will bo dealt with severely. Ho will bo fined £lO 10s, with costs, for permitting gambling, and £lO *id 7s costs for selling liquor after hours. In connection with the above case Emanuel Mendelsohn, Thomas Timmis South, Charles Henry Slater, Edward Ware, and-sFroderick Slater, a boarder at tho hotel, were charged with aiding and .abetting Lc Sour in allowing gambling on licensed promises. All pleaded guilty, and each was fined £5 and 7s costs.