GAMING HOUSE MANAGEMENT

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 15 August 1929, Page 6

GAMING HOUSE MANAGEMENT

RAWER A CHARGE CONCLUDED. ASSISTANT PINED £lO. Evidence in the adjourned charge preferred against William Elder, of Hawcra, of assisting ivith the management of a common gaming house m Union Street wa's heard by Mr J. H. Salmon. S.M.. in the Ham era Court vesterdav. The charge was one of those which followed the police raids on July 13 and arising from which Thomas 'Henderson Teesdale, the proprietor of the premises in Union Street, pleaded guilty to a charge of keeping a .common gaming house and was fined £SO on July 18.

•Defendant Elder, for whom Mr A. K. North appeared, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution was conducted by Detective A. B. Meiklejoint. Constable F. C. iLockie stated in evidence that while on plain clothes duty he visited the Arcadia Tea Rooms in Union Street on June 14 and was served with lunch by defendant. He later saw defendant and an older man, Tecsdalo, who -was the proprietor, standing at the shop counter and asked for a card of the Napier Park races. Defendant handed him a card which had been marked with Teesdale’s name. Teesdale accepted IQs for a bet on Ycspems. Witness gave his name as “Darkie.” Defendant had been standing by during the transaction.

PRESENT WITH PRINCIPAL. On July 13 witness again visited the tea rooms and saw Teesdale and Elder. Witness told Teesdale lie wanted 10s on .Kawini ' at the Wellington races. Teesdale accepted the Ibet giving witness a slip of paper oil which Kawini was written and told witness he would pay out on presentation of the slip if Kawini won.

Answering Mr North, witness said he took it for granted that Elder, who was standing beside Teesdale on each of the occasions referred to, was fully aware of the transactions. The cards were quite legal day cards and not double charts. Neither of the hots had produced dividend's.

Describing his visit to the tea rooms on the aftcraoon of July 13, together with Constable Scannell, Constable Mullan said that '.when they arrived Teesdale was not on the premises and Elder appeared to be in charge. In'sidc the place were a couple of young men studying a race card. During a search of the premises the constable found racing betting documents. As a result Teesdale, the proprietor, had boon convicted of keeping a common gaming bouse. Witness considered that Elder was interested in the (business with Teesdale as on on§ occasion Elder had signed a receipt which was handed to the constable, flic receipt stating with reference to a report of the nightwatchman 'concerning the door of the shop having been found open that nothing, was missing. Teesdale was not on the premises 'when witness arrived on July 13, but was pulled inside a little later (by Constable Scannell. When the police entered defendant was at the back of the shop. Corroborative evidence was given by Constable Scannell.

SLIGHT BUT SUFFICIENT. Mr North submitted that no evidence of defendant having assisted in betting had been adduced. Counsel asked that the charge be dismissed without, evidence for the defence being called, but the court held there was a case to answer. Defendant stated in evidence that he was employed in the tea rooms on wages and that when talking the engagement lie had expressly stipulated lie was not to be connected with any bookmaking side of the business. Referring to tuvo double charts discovered in his possession the markings on them, he contended that he and Mr and Mrs Teesdale had been endeavouring to pick the results of the races, a circle, two circles and two crosses represent-

in<r the respective marks made bv each to”indicate their preferences. Rc.pl ving to Detective Meiklejohn, witness admitted he had previously worked with Teesdale at Woodville. He denied throughout a lengthy crossexamination that he had at any time been concerned with Teesdale m bookmaking ventures. Should anyone enter the shop and inquire for Teesdale durino- liis absence witness wpuld advise the inquirer of Teesdale’s whereabouts. If a race card were asked for, witness would supply one if he know of their whereabouts. _ • The magistrate agreed with counsel s contention that the evidence against Elder was slight, but in the opinion of the magistrate it was sufficient. As the principal had already been dealt with he would not impose a heavy penalty. A fine of £lO and costs was entered.