GAMING HOUSE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 277, 27 October 1925, Page 6

GAMING HOUSE

CHARGE AGAINST A. G. SHEARSBY. MAXIMUM FINE IMPOSED. Arising out of a raid by the police yesterday, Alfred Granville Shearsby, 30 years of age, appeared before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court this morning on a charge that, on October 26 at Palmerston North, and on divers dates between October 10 and 26, being the occupier of a certain residence, namely, 63 Chelwood street, lie did use such place as a common gaming house. Accused, through his solicitor, Mr Ongley, pleaded guilty. ‘This man,” said counsel, “admits the offence with which he is charged, and all I can say in extenuation is that he is not one of the big men, nor is he of the aggressive type. He has not caused any trouble to the police and docs not frequent the town or hotels for the purpose of betting. He is a man who bears an excellent character, and lie has never previously been before the court on any charge. He has been connected with racing all his life and was training with his father when he met with an accident which put him out of the game and prevented him from doing hard work of any When the police visited his place ho was quite frank about the matter, and caused no trouble at all. He handed over documents and admitted that he had been bookmaking, giving the fullest possible information. He has not made himself objectionable to the police in finy way, nor did lie make himself objectionable when they raided his place yesterday.” Counsel, in concluding, asked that the fine bo fixed as low as possible and mentioned that he understood another charge was pending. POLICE STATEMENT. Detective-Sergeant Quirke said/that accused was a married man and had been betting for a considerable time, being in a fairly large way of business. When the raid had been made yesterday the police had taken £47 in bets over’ the telephone in the space of an hour and a-quarter. Accused had also been doing a fairly largo business in the country and had a post office box under the name of “Anderson.” He had elaborate code arrangements for doing business with various places in the North Island. Owing to the large scale on which ac-cused-was doing, business, lie would ask for the maximum fine to be imposed. ■ Shearsby could have been charged under another section in the Act, which would make him liable to a fine of £SOO. The extent of accused’s operations was further shown by the fact that his books disclosed 300 entries for one day. As stated by counsel, fie did not go about f.own, nor was he aggressive. He had rot given any trouble and had denied nothing. The magistrate: What is the suggested other charge?, * Detective-Sergeant Quirke : Publication of a double card; maximum fine £2O.

The magistrate: How long do you suggest that he has been carrying on this business?

Detective-Sergeant Quirke: For some years off and on. His present place has been established for some months.

The magistrate: He has been carrying on this business with his eyes open. I do not think that he is quite such a small man as has been suggested. Mr Ongley: He may be a big man as far as Palmerston North is concerned. Detective-Sergeant Quirke: It is just these past few years that he has blossomed out. FINE OF £IOO. - In imposing the maximum fine of £IOO, the magistrate said that accused would have been liable to a greater penalty if he had been charged with bookmaking. Default was fixed at two months’ imprisonment. Counsel asked that accused be allowed till 12 o’clock to find the money, and this was agreed to.