CHARGE ADJOURNED

Evening Star, Issue 23038, 17 August 1938, Page 7

CHARGE ADJOURNED

BOCKMAKING IN SMALL WAY I —— GAOL IF OFFENCE IS REPEATED A charge of carrying on the business of a bookmaker preferred against a young man named John Millie was ad* .lourned for 12 months by Mr, J. SR. Bartholomew, S.M., in the Police Court this morning. Milne, who was represented by Mr A. G. Neill, pleaded guilty. Detective-sergeant Hall stated that Milne lived with his mother in Helena street, and for some time past had been carrying on betting. On August 11 the detective sergeant and Detective Russell visited the premises and found slips which showed that Milne had taken about >lB bets that day, on which the meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club was being held. Milne said that he had taken about £lO for the day, mostly in 5s bets. He was on sustenance and in poor circumstances, and was married, with one child. Mr Neill said he felt that he should explain that Milne’s father, who had been before the court on one or two occasions for similar offences, died 1 about 12 months ago. This might possibly explain why Milne considered taking on a business of this kind. He was in employment until two months ago, and'had then done no betting, but was put off as a result of his contracting rheumatoid arthritis, which gave him a severe limp. He had to go on sustenance, and to eke out his existence took small bets. There was a telephone on the premises, but it was paid up for only a month or two ahead. Milne had no money, and said that he would have to go to gaol if a fine were imposed on him. Counsel suggested that the case might be met if the charge were to be adjourned for 12 months to see if he kept away from bookmaking. He had told counsel that he was determined to have nothing to do with the business again. He wasnot a member of any so-called association. and there was nobody to pay a fine for him. ' Mr Bartholomew: Milne does not appear to have made good in this business. • • Detective-sergeant Hall: I don’t think he has made much out of the game, sir. Mr Bartholomew said that the factfci showed that Milne was in a very small way, and in view of the circumstances it was open to the_ court'to deal with him in a less drastic manner than was usual. The charge would be adjourned, for twelve months, _ conditional, of course, upon his abstaining from carrying on any betting and upon the telephone being removed. i His Worship warned Milne that if lie came before the court again ho would go to gaol.