LAYING THE ODDS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 January 1928, Page 4

LAYING THE ODDS.

CONVICTION'S AT HAWERA. HEAVY PENALTIES IMPOSED. ACCUSED ADMIT OFFENCES. “Gaming is anti-social and lawless on all occasions. It introduces corruption into the Public. Service, is destructive of the best elements of public life, and is responsible for a great deal of shame and trouble to _ young men in positions of trust,” said Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., at the Hawera Magistrate’s Court to-day in entering convictions on gaming charges preferred against Walter May and Claude Albert Gleeson, hairdressing .saloon proprietors,. with premises in Union Street, and Joseph ITrliph, restaurant proprietor, of Princes ’ Street. May was fined £75 and Gleeson and IJrlich each fined £SO.

The charges against May were proceeded with first. They were (1) that on December 27 lie kept his hairdressing saloon as a common gaming House, (2) that on December 31 he kept a common gaming house, and (3) that on December 31 lie carried on the business of a bookmaker.

On the application of Detective A. B. Meiklejoim, the charge of carrying on the business of a bookmaker was withdrawn.

Mr. P. O’Dea, on behalf of the accused, pleaded guilty to the remaining charges. The detective said that accused had been carrying on the business of bookmaking for a number of years. On December 23, Constable Mitchell had obtained from May, a double chart and next day obtained two further double charts a several day cards. On December 27, __the constable made two bets with May and the next day he took a double on the Auckland Races. While the constable was in the shop a youth had come in and handed over to May a sum of money, and had been given several cards. EXPECTED SOMETHING DOING .

Continuing, the detective said that on December 31,' Constable Mitchell called to take further bets, but he refused to do any business saying he expected “something, to be doing about neon.” When he' was arrested later that day, May had had a total of £B3 4s in libs possession. “The accused has latterly become fairly well off, principally through bookmaking. I think I can go as far as to say that he is the biggest bookmaker in South Taranaki,” concluded the detective.

Mr O ’Pea said that May had been a resident of Hawera for the past 24 years, during which time he had always borne a good reputation. He did not bet outside his shop and had no “touts” in his employ, carrying on an entirely one-man business. lie was not a waster by any means. The fact that he was in possession of so large a sum of money ait the time of his arrest was due to the fact that the banks had been closed during the holiday period, and of the amount £3O were shop takings. “I am surprised to hear the detective say May is the biggest bookmaker in South Taranaki. 1 think 1 could name another man who is in a much bigger way,” continued Mr O’Dea. He claimed that the ,accused conducted only a cash business and allowed no credit. The fact that he had no telephone at. his shop indicated that he did not conduct a large business. He made a practice never to bet with juveniles.

Mr O’Dea said that the present laws affecting bookmaking presented a difficult problem. Many people in th Dominion regarded the laws as unjust, similar to the attitude adopted towards the Volstead Act in America. "I have read sufficient to know that there is no parallel in the enforcement of the laws in New Zealand and that i.n America,” said the magistrate. HARD TIMES OVERCOME. ‘Continuing, Mr ODea said that, while people of a certain mentality inhabited the country, betting would continue. During his bookmaking career, May had on several occasions been . financially broken, but had laways “I‘come up again. ’ ’ The detective drew attention to t.h fact that a number of urgent telegrams had been found on May’s premises. He was now in a sound financial position having two banking accounts. “It is a pity that a man with all the good qualities that Mr O 'Doa has placed before me should be content to put the temptation of betting before the youth of the - country, said M; Barton. He indicated that he was i accordance with the remarks of Mr O’Dea that,’ the present regulations were unsatisfactory, but while the 'laws were on the statutes the attitude of the court was clear. The accused would be fined £75 and ordered to pay 12s 6d costs.

Joseph Urlich was charged with (1) That on December 27 he carried on the business of a bookmaker, and (2) That on December 31 he did keep his restaurant in Princes Street as a common gaming house. The second charge was withdrawn on the application of the detective.

Mr O’Dea entered a plea of guilty tc the remaining indictment. The detective staled that; accused, who was a Jugo-Slav, had for some month si carried ,on a book-making, business. On December 16, Constable Mitchell had made three bets until Uriieh and further bets on December 26, 27 and 31. When the accused was arrested on the latter, date, considerable betting material had been found on the .premises- During recent months lie had been betting heavily, and at tlie time of his arrest had £IOO in his IKrssession. A heavy penalty was asked for. the detective remarking that business of this nature had increased latterly. The accused had practically invited the constable to do business with him. HAD “TURNED IT IN.”

Mr 'O’Dea. remarked that the visiting constable was said to be of particularly ingratiating manner, and he did not think it was correob to say that- the .-.cruised had invited business. His client had been in New Zealand for 20 years, had been naturalised and was a married man with a family. Hie had only l>een in operation ias a bookmaker for nine months, and now had “turned : t in.” He did not consider that durng the period mentioned he had put through more than £IOO. having bet in very small amounts. Leniency was '-"d for as a heavy penalty would 'seriously affect his financial position. TJ A had laid no “doubles,” and had employed no touts, the information • + he had operated as a bookmaker coming as a surprise to a large number of ueonle in the town. A fine of £SO, with costs 10s, was imposed. The other accused, who was indicted in the name of “Snowy” Gleeson, which was amended on the application of the detective to Claude Albert Glee-

son, was charge a with, (1) that on December 29, he kept a common gaming house and (2) that on December 20, be carried on the business of a bookmaker. WARNED OFF RACECOURSE.

By arrangement, with counsel (Mr. ' A. K. North), the charge of keeping a common, gaming house was withdrawn and on the remaining charge, the accused elected to be dealt with summarily.

The detective said that ror some months Gleeson had occupied a hairdressing saloon in Union Street. He had previously been employed in the siiop by a man - named Corrigan, of Wanganui, who was alleged to be a bookmaker, and about 12 months previously had been twice warned against bookma.king and had been removed from a racecourse. The business had been taken over by E. J. W. Frost, who had been fined for bookmaking and who had filed in bankruptcy. The business was now conducted by Gleeson, who had continued bookmaking. On Christmas Eve, Constable Mitchell had obtained race cards and made bets with Gleeson, and also on December 27 and 31. The premises had been raided on the latter date, and some betting material had been fonnd, although not as much as anight hare been expected. The sum of £9 3s had been found in his possession. A heavy penalty was asked for. Mr. North said that Gleeson was not an agent, but had been acting in a small way on liis own account. He claimed that a distinction should be made between a young man such as bis client and more experienced and older offenders-

Detective Meiklejohn handed in a document which, he alleged, indicated’ that Gleesofi was working for commission,. Corrigan being suggested as his principal. The document- was an account. of bets taken on tlie "Whipa meeting, on which £1 9s was shown a.s due to “Snowy” for commission. “I have no doubt that the fine will ~ not need to come out of the £9 found in his possession,” said the magistrate, who imposed a fine of £SO.

ELTHAM CASES.

•CHARGED WITH MAKING BETS.

At the Hawera Magistrate’s Court charges of booking preferred against Harry Alexander Blaekstock, of Mountain Road, Eltham, and charges of making bets preferred against residents of Eltham and Ivaponga, were transferred to the Eltham Court for hearing on January 31.

Four charges were preferred against Blaekstock, being (1) Of bookmaking (2 and 3) publishing double charts, and (4) entering into a bet the amount at stake being dependant on the results of the working of the totalisator. Allegations of - making . bets with bookmakers wore made against WilFm Honrv Maneer, of Eltham, Charles West, of Kaponga. Roy Scown, Joseph Wallace Major, Clarence Brock, and Horace James Startup, of Eltham.