GAOL FOR BOOKMAKER

Evening Star, Issue 21619, 15 January 1934, Page 10

GAOL FOR BOOKMAKER

PLEA FOR MERCY INEFFECTIVE COMMUNITY MUST BE PROTECTED [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, January 15. “ Bookmaking is a nuisance in the community. and has got to be checked.” said the magistrate (Mr Wyvern Wilson) to-day in' sentencing George Geelong Paul, aged sixty, to one month’s imprisonment. The police said Paul had an office specially fitted up for bookmaking, and was doing business in a large way. Last Saturday he took 154 bets, totalling £6B. He was one of the biggest bookmakers in Auckland, and gave the largest odds obtainable in the city. He had previously been fined £25 for assisting in management, and in April last £SO for bookmaking. Counsel made a strong plea for mercy on account of accused’s age and illhealth.

The magistrate said the community should be protected from persons who made a living out of gaming houses. Would it protect the community if he ordered Paul to pay a fine out of his riches? The only way to stop men from openly breaking the law was to impose imprisonment. Counsel; Would your Worship reconsider the decision if my client gives an assurance that he will definitely stop? The Magistrate: I don’t know whether he will stop when he comes out, but he is going to prison for a month. Max Charles Thorpe, for carrying on the business of a bookmaker, was-fined £25 or one month, and M. J.-O’Connor, M. C. Sallery, J. -G. Hooper, J. F. O’Connor, and J. H. Ansel] were remanded till Wednesday on. charges of using premises ns common gaming houses. Their bail was renewed. -

[These charges resulted from four simultaneous .raids on Saturday.].