BOOKMAKER FINED £75.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 2 June 1928, Page 6

BOOKMAKER FINED £75.

STB A TFOTID TOB A GOONIiST CONVICTED. THREE RESIDENTS ALSO FINED. Tl-e -sequel -to a raid by Detective Al.eilclejo'lm, 'Sergeant -Powell and Constable Small on the -promises -of Ernest A. Johnson, tobacconist, of Al'av 19, was heard -at the Stratford Magistrate ’& -Court yesterday when Johnson pleaded guilty to a charge of keeping a common gaming house. Air. R. W. Tate, .S.M., imposed a fine of £75 with costs 15/-.

Detective -Meiklejohn stated -that, accompanied -by the sergeant -and -the constable, he visited defendant’s premises on the second day of the Wanganui races at 2 p.m. In the private room behind -the saloon the detective found defendant and three local men looking at a double -chart. When told that he would be -charged with keeping -a gaming-h'ouse defendant had s'aid that he would not dispute the charge. At the time of the raid defendant, had over £4O in cash, double -charts, -and Ua-ce cards on his person. The detective declared that defendant was one of the two biggest bookmakers in Taranaki ’and was e-asilv able to pav -the maximum fine of £100."

■Speaking on behalf of 'the accused, Mr. A. Coleman said that Johnson had made a complete disclosure and had made no effort to hinder 'the police in any way whatsoever. Counsel thought that the Bench should take no notice of the detective’s statement that accused was one of the largest bookmakers in Taranaki. Even if defendant were bookmaking on a grand scale that did not mean that- lie Was -able -to pay the maximum fine. Counsel appealed to the Bench to ignore the statements which had been made. He maintained--that as defendant was a first offender it was a ease rather 'for a minimum fine than the maximum. “It doesn’t -matter very much whether or not defendant is one of the biggest bookmakers in Taranaki,” said Mr. Tate, “but what does matter is the fact that he lias been, running a gambling concern of considerable size, as is shown by all this p-araphenalia which Detective Meiklejohn found on his premises. As this man is a first offender I will not impose the imprisonment penalty, as is -in my power to da. but I will fine him £75.” As a result of the above case, three Stratford resident, -Charles Ncilson, Bert I?owe and Herbert Hancock were charged with being found in a common gaming-house. They all pleaded net guilty, but after hearing the evidence of the -police, the Magistrate inflicted a fine of £2 10s and 15/. -costs on each defendant.