“BOOKIES" FINED

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 10194, 5 January 1926, Page 2

“BOOKIES" FINED

PENALTIES TOTAL £350

STORY OF BETS WITH CONSTABLE.

THREE MEN CAUGHT

AUCKLAND', Jan. 4

T hreo bookmakers, who were arrested in Auckland at midday on Saturday by Chief-Detective Cummings and Senior-Detective Ward, pleaded guilty at the Police Court this morning and were fined sums totalling £BSO. Thomas Leeee was fined £2OO, Henry James Abraham was fined £loo and Win. Beresford' was fined £SO.

Beresford did his betting in*a city hotel, according to Chief-Detective Cummings. Leeee carried on business as a bookmaker in a billiard saloon Books and papers showed that he had a satisfactory business. Abraham told the police that he was making bets for someone else. In each case the bookmakers had made bets with a constable during the latter part or December.

Mr. R. A. Singer, for the accused, said that Abraham was 26 years oi age, married, with two children. There was no record against him Some time ago he was dischargee from his employment because the cm ploycr wanted to put his brother n, Abraham’s place. Since then A b'ta. ham had found it difficult to get a job. The largest bet made by A bra ham was 10s. Mr. Singer denied tluu Abraham was working for a prim pal. Chief-Detective Cummings: Since December 20 he lias been openly betting with a constablo. He has £l6u in the bank. For Beresford, Mr. Mason submitted that the loss of an arm at the wai had made it difficult for him to earn a living. He was in receipt of a pension of 80s a week, but that was not sufficient to keep himself, Ins wife and their sick child. He made small silver bets only; as a rule he dealt.in halfcrowns and five-shilling bets, working for a principal. He was unable to do hard work and had taken a position as night watchman. Chief-Detective Cummings said ii was quite true that Beresford ban a good war record, and that he ws:C employed at night as a caretaker, but he had been making bets freely since last vear.

“What have you got to say for yourself, Leeee?” asked Mr. Poynton, S.M. Leeee had nothing to say. Chief Detective Cummings said that Lecce had been in charge of a billiard saloon.

Leec-e interjected to sny he had given it up about 18 months ago when fines were imposed. Mr. Mason asked that Beresford s name should be suppressed. He was in a Government job and if the facts became public it might go hard witn him.

Mr. Poynton, S.M. : Certainly not; a man who cqn be a successful bookmaker, or a. partially successful bookmaker, must have committed hundreds of oifences against the law. This is one of those cases where J will not order the suppression ot the name.— Press- Assn.