WOMEN LAY “ODDS.”

Grey River Argus, 28 November 1927, Page 5

WOMEN LAY “ODDS.”

OPERATIONS AT TROTS. AUCKLAND, November 27. Beneath the grandstand at Alexandra Park last Saturday afternoon, two women were “laying odds” with industry that would have done credit to a male bookmaker. At one stage of the day, they were doing business with a crowd of 300 people gathered about them, The story of the operations was told at the Police Court, when the women Mary Smith and Hilda Jane Wigg pleaded guilty to charges of carrying on business as bookmakers.

Chief-Dectective Cummings said that accused were betting openly underneath the grandstand at Saturday’s trotting meeting. At one time there was a crowd of 300 people around them. “A BIG BUSINESS” When Smith was arrested, she had a number of cards and a book with her and the indications were that she had a big business. “We had no evidence of it,” said the Chief-Dectective, “but there is a suggestion that she was operating on behalf of another bookemaker. ”

Continuing, Mr. Cummings said that the woman Wigg was working on a smaller scale, taking bets for 2s 6d and ss. On one race she had 30 bets entered.

“She is in poor circumstances,” said Mr. Cummings, “and I have no reason to doubt the statement that Saturday was her first day out.

“She saw the other woman in fine clothes, and. thought apparently, that she, too, would get rich quick.” The Magistrate, Mr. W. R. McKean: It was rather impudent of them to be doing business underneath the grandstand.

Mr. Cummings mentioned that Smith had been observed at a previous trotting meeting. Smith was fined £4O in default two months’ imprisonment, and Wigg was fined £lO in default 21 days’ imprisonment.