BETTING DEBTS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1938, Page 2

BETTING DEBTS

alleged slander and assault AUCKLAND, March y. Claims for. £IOO for alleged slander and for £l6O for alleged assault were brought against Alexander Johnston, described as a bookmaker (al r Meek), in the Magistrate's Court before Air F. K. Hunt, S.Af., by John Robert Rigg, a wool worker (Mr Dickson^. The plaintiff, in evidence, said that the defendant was a bookmaker. The witness had dealt with him for about two months, and on January 3l incurred a debt of £lO over some bets placed with the defendant. The horses lost, and when the defendant called plaintiff said he would get.in touch with him later. He ; rang the defendant’s 1 office ■ at about 5.30 on lebruary 1, and made arrangements with a clerk to pay on the following Alonday.

Oil February 2, at 7.10 a.m., there was a knock at the door of his house at Grafton road. Witness answered che door and found the defendant there. The plaintiff tofu him he had made arrangements to pay the money at the defendant's office on the following Monday. The defendant said, “Have you ?” and hit the witness over the right eye. The witness saw a knuckle-duster or ring glisten as the biow travelled.

The witness picked up a piece of wood, and the, defendant made a movement towards his hip-pocaec as if he had a gun there. The witnesran and got an axe and threatened him with it to pacify him, because the defendant was acting like a madman. The defendant said: “I’ll teach you to steal a cheque from my office. I’ll get you six months. I’ll go to work and get you the sack.’’ Ihe witness said that the defendant then went away, still shouting abuse. Previously the. witness had won £3l and had given £lO of it to his brother for safe keeping. He was going to get the money to pay his debt. The defendant, in evidence, said that he had known plaintiff for about three weeks. On January 31 he booked up £lO in bets, with a promise that he would pay by noon on the following day. When the' plaintiff did not arrive the defendant went ‘to the plaintiff’s place of work and arranged for him to pay between 5. and 5.30 pun. The plaintiff did not arrive, and so the next morning the defendant went to his house. The plaintiff came out and said: “What do you want here?” Witness said, “I have come for my money.” The plaintiff slipped round the side of the house, saying “I don’t pay’ any bookmakers,’’ and got an axe. The witness hit him. The plaintiff swung the axe up again, so the defendant went away’. As he went away he said: “If you don’t pay me that £lO you are a thief. I paid you £3l last week, and now you have been dodging me.” The defendant had said nothing about the plaintiff stealing: a cheque.