BETTING RAIDS IN SYDNEY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 30 March 1936, Page 7

BETTING RAIDS IN SYDNEY

INQUIRY INTO POLICE METHODS (United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright) SYDNEY, 27th March. Alfred Pearce, Manly, gave evidence to-day before the commission of inquiry into police methods of conducting betting raids in favour of • Police Sergeant William Jennings, whose actions were questioned in regard to a North Sydney betting raid. Pearce, who admitted having been convicted several times for illegal betting, described Jennings as a fairminded officer upon whose advice he finally gave up starting-price betting. Pearce also admitted that he personally had acted the part of police “pimp” when a trap was set for a constable named Grant. Pearce had tendered him bribes at the rate of £4O a month in order to he able to carry on betting. Grant originally was satisfied with £2O a month, then he demanded £4O. Pearce told him he could not afford'it. Grant had said: “If you don’t give me that money you won’t bet next Wednesday.” Pearce was unable to get the extra £2O and was raided, caught, convicted, and fined £2O for illegal be'ting on that particular Wednesday. Sergeant William Jennings, who gave evidence concerning raids on various illegal betting shops, including Peace’s, said that lie had been responsible for 880 arrests in two years for breaches of betting ancl gaming laws and 846 persons had actually pleaded guilty. i The commission next investigated a complaint by William Alowlds who declared that two constables suddenly, raided his shop at Dulwich Hill in 1933, turned the place upside down and scared the life out of his wife. Alowlds swore lie had never taken bets in his life, hut he frequently made them, and settling slips which the police found on his premises on that occasion related to his private bets. The commission adjourned.