VULCAN LANE PROSECUTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13286, 19 September 1906, Page 5

VULCAN LANE PROSECUTIONS.

BOOKMAKERS BEFORE THE .COURT. CHARGES OF OBSTRUCTING THE * ■ WAY. At the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., two bookmakers named William Ryan and William Curtis were charged-with obstructing the footpath in Vulcan Lane —the former on June 9, and the latter on June 2.

Ryan's case was heard first. Sergeant Hendry prosecuted, and Mr. J. C. Martin defended.

Constable J. Horan elated that on the morning of June 9 last he saw defendant standing on the footpath in Vulcan Lane. He (defendant) had a book in his hand, and remained there for about five minutes. People passing up and down the footpath in the lane had to walk on to the road. When defendant saw witness he went away, but subsequently came back again. On the first occasion defendant caused an obstruction. Witness knew that defendant was a bookmaker. Vulcan Lane was frequented by bookmakers, and many men who went to bet with them were of a very low class.

In reply to Mr. Martin, witness said he did not suggest that Ryan associated with a low class of men.

Constable Armstrong, who was in Horan's company on the date in question, said Ryan remained on the footpath in Vulcan Lane for five minutes. This was at a-quarter to ten a.m., and an obstruction was caused by defendant remaining there. Witness also saw defendant in the lane at ten minutes past ten a.m. Several people passed at the

time, and had to turn off the footpath on to the road.

Mr. Martin: Was there a. cart in the lane at the time? Witness : I do not remember. This closed the case for the prosecution. Defendant, a bookmaker, residing at Ponsonby, stated' that on June 9 he left home after nine a.m., and arrived at the top of Victoria-street at a-cruarter to ten a.m. He then walked to the National Bank, and a.fter doing some business there he proceeded to the telegraph office, and arrived there before the clock struck ten'a.m. He sent, a telegram to New Plymouth, to a man named R. Cock, and also another telegram elsewhere. He then went over to a barber's shop opposite the telegraph office, and had a shave. He was not in Vulcan Lane before ten a.m. on June. 9. The. police must have mistaken the time. After witness had a shave he went to the Occidental Hotel in Vulcan Lane, and just as he was going in the doorway he received a telegram. A man named Cullen came up to witness, and said: "I owe you 55, - ' and gave witness a£l note. Cullen was on the footpath, and witness on the road. He (witness) stepped on to the footpath, and went into the hotel, and changed the £1 note. Witness drew Cullen's attention to Constable Armstrong, who was near by, and sand to Cullen: He (Constable Armstrong) will say I am betting."

In reply to Sergeant , Hendry, witness said he was surprised on getting a summons. The constables might have mistaken somebody else for witness. John Cullen said he saw defendant in Vulcan Lane at ten minutes past ten on the date in question. Witness corroborated' what Ryan had stated regarding the ss. .Sergeant Hendry: When was your memory taxed about that date? .. * ; Witness: About eight or nine days afterwards. ' -i-,.i,yj <>') !:'. -HI ' ■ '»:;:" '-■'"■• Sergeant Hendry: As to where defendant was at ten a.m. you have no-knowledge?'■'■v ' Witness r- No. '"',;■ : •••'»' w -* ;;-'

F. .M. King, a hairdresser, said, he remembered Ryan coming into, his shop on June 9, and staying there for seven or eight minutes. Ryan pulled his watch out of his pocket and looked at it. Witness thought he heard the clock striking. ' Mr. > Kettle: Do you swear that you heard the clock striking? '- • : Witness: No.'

Sergeant Hendry: Do you remember Ryan pulling out his watch? Witness: Yes.

Sergeant Hendry:. Was there any particular reason why - you should remember June 9. , • .

Witness: Because ; there was a rate meeting on that day. Mr. Martin Were you not spoken to before yesterday (Monday) about . giving evidence? " "' Witness: No. . William Scarborough, nightwatchman employed ,by Puilan amd Armitage, 'bus proprietors, said, on June 9 he was instructed to have a cab at. the Metropolitan Hotel at half-past ten a.m. Witness arrived there at twenty minutes past ten a.m., and spoke- to defendant 'ait twenty-five minutes past ten a.m. Constables Horan and Armstrong (recalled) said that they were quite sure that, Ryan was in Vulcan Lane at a-quarter to ten aim. The town clock was going. Henry W. Lawson, accountant at the National Bank, said he remembered defendant coming into the bank about telegraphing to Timaru about a cheque for £100. This would be about half-past nine a.m. or a-quarter to ten a.m. Mr. Martin asked for an adjournment, in order to call further evidence, which was granted until this morning. The charge against Curtis was then heard. I

Sergeant F. A. Moore stated that on June 2 he saw defendant in Vulcan Lane at twenty minutes to : two p.m. He (defendant) was in company with five other men, who were obstructing the footpath. They took up all the footpath, and also part of the road. When the men saw the police they "darted" into the Occidental Hotel in ail directions. Some of them went into the billiard-room, some into the rooms upstairs, and some into the urinal. The names of the men were Doing, Adams, Tobias, Atkins, and Andrews. ' In answer to Mr. Hackett, witness said he had no doubt about defendant's identity ; he was sure about the time. He had never had any occasion to caution defendant* about obstructing the lane. He had summoned the rest of the men. Witness did not see Curtis in the hotel.

Mr. Kettle:' The police ought to have had a camera, and taken a snapshot of the men on the spot.

Sergeant Hendry: If Mr. Hackett will instruct his clients to stand still we will have thait. done. (Laughter.) Constables Syms, Armstrong, and Holland gave corroborative evidence. Questioned by Mr. Hackett, Constable Syms said he had never seen defendant making a bet in Vulcan Lane. In opening the case for the defence, Mr. Hackett said defendant came to town on the date in question to see if there was a telegram for him at one of the hotels. . Mr. Kettle i remarked that if telegrams were left at the hotels" for the convenience of - bookmakers it was a matter for the Licensing Committee to look into. Defendant, placed in the witness-box, said he wa;s a horsestealer and a bookmaker, but had left off street betting for some considerable time. He had never been warned about betting. He resided at Green Lane, and usually came to town two or three times during- the week. On the date in question he came to town for the purpose of seeing if there were any telegrams for him. He was not one of the men who made "a dive like rate into the hotel." When he was in the billiard saloon he was told that the police had taken the names of several bookmakers. Witness was not in the Occidental Hotel.

Mr. Hackett applied for an adjournment so as to obtain several witnesses.

Mr. Kettle granted an adjournment unti this morning. -