WINNING WAGERS TAKEN BY POLICE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6806, 9 January 1929, Page 6

WINNING WAGERS TAKEN BY POLICE

PISH SHOP RAIDED.

EVIDENTLY NOT ONE OF TH V “SMALL FRY.”

Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 8. In the Magistrate’s Court, Mrs. Mary Mitchell was fined £3O on a charge Of using the premises of 52 Oxford torrace a 3 a common gaming house. Her husband, Robert James Watson Mitchell, who faced a similar charge, pleaded not guilty and the' case was dismissed for want of prosecution. Albert Edward Baldwin, charged with being found on the premises, was fined £3. Charles Shroll admitted being on the premises and was fined £2. Patrick Walsh and Robert Michael Cox were each charged with carrying on tho business of a bookmaker. Walsh was also charged with keeping a common gaming house and Cox with assisting in keeping a common gaming house. Albert Khouri was charged with being found without lawful- excuse on the premises of a common gaming house at 66 Hills road. In each of these cases the accused was reminded for a week on bail.

All the charges are the Tesult of police raids on New Year’s Eve.

The chief detective said that tho Mitchell’s premises, a fish shop, werq raided on December 31. On the telephone was a list showing nearly £ls worth of bets. Soon after the police arrived Matron Rodgers answered the telephone and took three more bots—all winners. The police found a statement showing that the bets were being taken for some other person and that Mrs. Mitchell was getting a commission. Sho had frankly admitted .the offence.

In fixing the fine, the Magistrate, Mr. Mosley, said that bookmakers were pretty hard to catch, and when they wero caught they had to pay. Tho fact that Mrs. Mitchell had put no opposition in the way of the police had weighed considerably with the Court. He could not possibly let he): off with a nominal penalty, as there was conclusive proof that she was in a pretty big way of business.