BETTING PARASITE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 18 June 1931, Page 3

BETTING PARASITE

COMPLAINT BY WOMEN husbands; pay squandered “There are quite a. number of these parasites springing up about the town and they have got to be put down,” stated Sergeant T. Dyer in. the Masterton Magistrate’s Court when John James Brennan, alias Stored, alias Brownlee, thirty-six years of age, was charged with bookmaking. A charge of being an idle and disorderly person was also preferred against Brennan. lie pleaded guilty to both charges. Sergeant Dyer said that the police had bad accused under observation for some time, lie had been in Masterton for about twelve months and had been employed for a period at the Waingawa Freezing Works, but he had done no work since 4th April, lie had been carrying on the business of a bookmaker for the past twelve months, operating chiefly among the employees at the Waingawa works and the Masterton gasworks, lie had also visited boardinghouses in 11 10 town for llie purpose of taking hets. In consequence of this j complaints had come from married women that their husbands were coming borne at the weekend with only half their wages. ITo had been arrested by Constable l.c Comte, and when questioned was quite frank and admitted laying small doubles for about twelve, months. A substantial penalty was asked for.

The Magistrate (Air J. Miller) commented that the arresting feature of the case was that accused had frequented works and relieved workmen of their hard-earned money. The men did not matter so much. It was the women who suffered. Brennan’s mode of operating probably caused more distress than did the big bookmakers. Men such as he were a menace to society.

A fine of £4O, in. default three months’ imprisonment, was imposed on the charge of bookmaking. On the charge of vagrancy Brennan was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if -.•ailed upon within twelve months.