EUCHRE ILLEGAL?

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 58, 6 February 1928, Page 9

EUCHRE ILLEGAL?

SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE. PROGRESSIVE TOURNEYS. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 4. An appeal was made by the police in the! Supreme Court against the decision of Mr E. S. Mosley, S.M., dismissing the charge against V llliam Britten that by conducting progressive euchre tournaments he was keeping a gaming-house. , _ Mr A. T. Donnelly 6aid that Britten had conducted progressive euchre tournaments at the Sydenham Football Club’s rooms. A charge of 2s 6d foi admission was made, and prizes ranging from £lO down to 5s were given. Between 200 and 300 people attended these tournaments each night, and the ordinary rules of progressive euchre were observed. The magistrate liact held that the game of euchre was not unlawful —that it was a game of skill. Counsel for Britten said that the question was one of very great importance, for such tournaments were carried on all over the country for private gain and to aid club funds of all sorts. Prosecution had been brought in all parts of the country and had been dismissed with the exception of a case in Auckland, in which there had been a conviction. The dismissal of the case at present before the Court after the Auckland decision had been followed by the present appeal. The game of euchre was a game of skill as ordinarily played. His Honour : A game of mixed chance and skill. Where there is a dealing of cards it cannot be held to be a game of skill. Counsel contended that there was a substantially operative element of skill, and so the game was not unlawful. His Hosour reserved his decision.