GAMBLING IN A RAILWAY CARRIAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7862, 3 February 1887, Page 5

GAMBLING IN A RAILWAY CARRIAGE.

[BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.! Wellington, Wednesday. Tub Police Corftt was occupied until five this evening hearing a charge against C. D. Shearman, A. Chudleigh, K. Arthurson, B. Stephen?, and W. Smith, for gambling in a train on the 2Sth ult., while returning from Grey town Kaces. Mr. Gully prosecuted, and Mr. Jellicoe defended. The evidence for the prosecution showed conclusively that the accused had been playing either at cards or dice, and other passengers were invited to join. Mr. Jellicoe, for the defence, commented strongly on cases of this class being prosecuted with the funds of the colonial treasury, when it was known that officers holding high positions entered freely into gambling transactions. Mr. Gully objected to these remarks, and said the prosecution was instituted by the police, and not by the treasury. • The .Resident Magistrate then interfered, and said it was most insolent for the counsel for the defence to use the words he had, and to endeavour to stigmatise the private character of gentlemen holding high positions. He could hardly trust himself to make the remarks he wished, but what had been said on behalf of the defendants was moat irregular and improper, and he hoped ho had heard the last of it. The evidence for the defence was of a conflicting nature. Smith and Chudleigh were acquitted; Arthurson and Shearman were fined £5 for gambling with dice, and Stephens for betting with Jhem, the last three to share costs.