BUSY DAY IN COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15514, 22 January 1914, Page 5

BUSY DAY IN COURT.

BETTING ON RACECOURSES.

ALEXANDRA PARK INCIDENT

TWO FINES OF TWENTY POUNDS

A charge of acting as a bookmaker, and as such making bets on the Alexandra Park racecourse on December 27 last, was' brought against Gilbert Parker in the Police Court yesterday. The defendant, who pleaded not guilty, was represented by Mr. R. P. Towle.

Evidence for the prosecution was given to the effect that the defendant was kept under observation by a racecourse detective. Three men were seen to go up to the defendant,. and to pass him what appeared to be money. The defendant was seen to make entries in his racing book. The defendant, when taxed with bookmaking, attempted to mutilate his book, and at first refused to give his correct name. In the defendant's pockets was found the sum of £69 odd. A constable, who was called, told the defendant to give up his book if he had nothing to hide as he said, but the man persisted in his attempts to tear it up. The constable, however, rescued pieces which showed various entries indicating that the book had been used for betting purposes. Any struggle that took place was directly due to the defendant's efforts to destroy his book. The defendant was escorted from the racecourse by the constable in order that the name and address which he had given might be verified. After the evidence for the prosecution, the defendant withdrew his plea of not guilty and entered one of guilty, counsel intimating that this course nad been adopted solely in order that His Worship mignt hear how the defendant had been treated. Mr. E. C. Cutt'en, S.M., said that was an improper course to have taken. There was nothing to show that any improper > treatment had been meted out to the j defendant. Counsel had simply wasted the Court's time by making the prosecution produce all their evidence. The defendant was fined £20 and 22s 6d costs, a request for time in which to pay the money being refused. Another man, named Harry Hewson, who is at present working on a scow, admitted that he had been carrying on business as a bookmaker on the Takapuna racecourse. The chief detective said that he did not wish to press for a heavy penalty, as defendant was not in very affluent circumstances. The minimum penalty of £20 and costs was imposed, the defendant boins allowed to pay the fine at the rate of £2 a month. AN UNUSUAL CHARGE. An unusual charge was brought against a youth of 18 named Charles George Chatfield. It was alleged that he, being charged with an indictable offence and on bail, was about to abscond. Chatfield in November last was committed for trial at the Supreme Court on charges arising out of a strike incident, having been found with a loaded revolver in his possession. Since that time Chatfield has been living with his brother-in-law, who went surety for him, at Coromandel. Chatfield apparently left Coromandel a day or two ago for Auckland, and his brother-in-law obtained a warrant for his arrest. Mr. R. Singer, who appeared for Chatfield, said that his client had no idea of absconding. He had come to Auckland to consult a solicitor about his defence. A remand until Friday was granted, pending inquiries. BY-LAW "BREACHES. As a milk' cart, driven by Thomas Dickie, was proceeding over Grafton Bridge it was alleged to have swerved out from its correct side of the road in order to pass another vehicle. A collision with a motor-car resulting, Dickie was summoned for not keeping as near to the left hand side of the road as practicable. The collision, according to the witnesses for the prosecution, was directly due to the defendant pulling across the road. This was denied* by the defendant and several other witnesses, who put the blame for the collision upon the motor-car. i After a lenethy hearing, His Worship decided that the defendant was to blame, anu he was convicted and fined £2, and 58s costs. Arthur Bryant left his motor standing in Upper Queen Street. The car was also insufficiently lighted. He was fined 10s, and 18s costs. Charles Mears, who drove his milk cart round the corner of Grafton Bridge and Symonds Street on the wrong side, was ordered to pay 7s costs. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. " I was worried and had been drinking," said George Lovell in explanation of why he had attempted to commit suicide at Onehunga by drinking poison. The accused was prevented in his intention by the proprietor of the boardinghouse in which he was staying, dashing away the bottle before the accused had time to "drink the contents. A remand for a week was ordered, so that the accused might be kept under observation. INTEMPERANCE. Convicted of insobriety, one first offender was discharged without any penalty, in' view of his advanced age. Two other first offenders were each fined the usual ss, with an alternative of 24 hours in gaol. Mary Campbell was fined 10s, or 48 hours' imprisonment in default, for her second offence within the last six months. Convicted of being drunk for the third time recently, and also of a breach of his prohibition order, William Kirk was fined £2, with an alternative of a months hard labour. MISCELLANEOUS. Arrested on a charge of having failed to provide his wife in Christchurch with adequate maintenance. Augustus James Coleman was remanded for a week. Bail was allowed in one surety of £100, or in two of £50. Alleged to have stolen at Te Kuiti at the beginning of last February a watch and Gladstone bag. valued at £4, Thomas Ward was remanded until Monday next on, the same bail as that allowed previously. Charged with breaking and entering at Napier and with stealing £75 worth of jewellery, Richard Carpenter was remanded to appear in that town in a week's time.