ATTEMPT TO BET.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 222, 17 August 1927, Page 10

ATTEMPT TO BET.

FINE OF THIRTY POUNDS

Per Press Association

- CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 16. A plea of not guilty was offered by William Kitson, a commission agent, of Wellington, who. was charged in the Supreme Court to-day with making a bet with Alfred Vivian Whitta, a bookmaker, of Christchurch, on March 10. • ‘ '

Kitson was one of the many who were prosecuted after a raid made on Whitta’s premises a few days after March 10, but Kitson elected to be tried by jury. Whitta was convicted of the offence of bookmaking on March 16. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr Donnelly) said that, as a result of a raid on Whitta’s premises, a telegraphed bet from Kitson' to Whitta, asking for a double on the Wellington races, was traced. When interviewed at Wellington by a detective, Kitson had admitted the offence, and 6aid he would plead guiltv. However, he had changed his mind. Whitta had not sent to Kitson tho usual confirmation of tho bet, although the bet was booked, but it -was clear that an attempt to bet had been made by Kitson. Mr C. S. Thomas, counsel for accused, said that on March 10 Whitta had not been proved to have been a bookmaker

“It is a ca6e in which /.you should exercise common sense,” said Mr Justice Adams when addressing tho jury. Having retired at 11.55 a.m., the jury returned at 2.20 with a verdict of not guilty of making a bet, but of guilty of an attempt to do so. The; Crown Prosecutor informed His Honour that Kitson had never previously been convicted, but it appeared that he had been Whitta’e Wellington agent. , . Kitson was fined £3O, in default six weeks’' irnprisonment. *