MAGISTRATE NOT VERY IMPRESSED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 15 August 1944, Page 4

MAGISTRATE NOT VERY IMPRESSED

Ray Septimus Cousins Ryder was fined £25 in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon for using his hairdressing saloon as a common gaming house. Defendant, who was represented by Mr J. H. Ralfe, pleaded guilty. Detective-Sergeant F. Hayhurst explained to the court that as the result of raids in another part of the country information sent to Nelson suggested that defendant was acting as agent for someone else. His premises were visited on Saturday and betting chits to the value of £2l were discovered. Ryder had not previously been before the court and was not a bookmaker himself. The Magistrate, Mr T. E. Maunsell, asked if the offence had been casual or systematic. The detective replied ttyat defendant had been connected with it for some months. Counsel said that defendant was a married man with three young children and had not been in trouble previously. He was not operating on a large scale, and when interviewed was quite open about the matter. It was really a case of obliging customers. Counsel said he understood that the remuneration was not very great. Ryder had been foolish and realised his foolishness. Mr Ralfe suggested that a small fine would meet the case. He did not think Ryder was likely to carry on the agency, . His Worship said he was not very impressed with the statement that defendant was obliging customers. If he was he was assisting them to break the law. A person who acted as agent for bookmakers was keeping a common gaming house. He knew defendant was a man of repute. A fine of £25 was imposed.