FINED £100

Grey River Argus, 29 November 1943, Page 2

FINED £100

GAMING CHARGE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 27. i Robert Henry Odell, aged 39, described by the prosecuting police officer as “one of the big men of the town,’’ was fined £lOO bv Mr. E. C. Lewy, S.M., at a special sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at the Police Station this afternoon on a charge of using premises at 378 Worcester Street as a common gaming house. Odell, who was not represented by counsel, pleaded guilty. Detective-Sergeant F. J. Brady said that Odell occupied premises in Worcester Street which were run by his wife a s a beauty parlour. At 11.45 a.m. to-day, DetectiveSergeant J. J. Halcrow and Detective T. J. Knowles executed a searchwarrant and found Odell busy on the premises taking bets. There were two telephones and a wireless set, and a number of bets were taken over the telephone while they were there. A large quantity of betting slips was seized, and a check showed that £248 5 S had been taken in bets this morning on horses racing to-day. Odell had previous convictions. The Magistrate imposed a fine of £lOO, in default three months’ im-