POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17338, 9 December 1919, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

BETTING ON A RACECOURSE. BOOKMAKER FINED £40. Betting as a bookmaker on the Takapuna racecourse on November 26 was denied by George HogwTKTd when charged before Mr. J. E. Wilson, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. ' The evidence of Detectives McHugh and McLennan was to the effect thai the accused was approached, generally after the totahsator had closed, by numerous persons, and he was seen to make entries in his race card. Only once was money seen to pass between the accused and his alleged "customers." The card was seized just as he was making an entry for a woman. Its pages were covered with pencilled signs, such as "2s 6d Mac," " ss' lad," " 2s 6d Ponsonby," in all 38 entries being recorded for the four first races. The accused tried to destroy the book by ! tearing its pages before the detectives seized it. When asked for an explanation the accused replied: "It's no good: you've got me now." When arrested he had £58 in notes and silver in his posse? sion. The accused in evidence said the notes against each hors e represented either his previous losses or the money giveiTTum bv his fellow-workmen to put on the totalisa'tor for them. H e was fond of racing, and until arrested was standing before the totahsator making up tickets with'" Sam " and his other friends. Cross-examined by Chief-Detective McMahon, the accused denied he had said •the game is up." He did not call witnesses as he thought the case was not to be proceeded with Questioned by Mr. Wilson concerning a certain entry on his card, Hogwood could give no explanation. "Oh, get out of the box," said the magistrate, "you are utterly unreliable and your word cannot be taken. I am quit* satisfied that you are telling me a tissue of lies. _ Chief-Detective McMahon staled that ha Had received anonymous letters which indicated the accused had been in the habit ot refusing to pay out the money to which his clients were entitled. The magistrate imposed a fine of £40. Can I have some time to pay it"' asked_ the accused. ' "No," came a stern rejoinder from the Bench. RAD LANGUAGE ON FERRY. John William T. Knight air. A. Moodv) admitted having used obscene language on the ferry steamer Albatross on November 10. The police stated that the accused had met a drunken friend on the boat and m an altercation had used the words complained of. The other man had already been fined £10 for the offence The magistrate said that as the accused had been in gaol for a week awaiting trial he would substitute a fine for imprisonment. Accused was fined £10, with £2 5s costs. , DRUNKENNESS. Henry Percival Smith, described ' bv Sub-Inspector Wohlmann as " a chronic inebriate with 92 previous convictions," admitted drunkenness and was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, Samuel Biair and. Alfred James Massey, for beins found drunk on Sunday, were each fined Ois. Two first offenders forfeited 10s hail and oae was convicted and discharged. ALLEGED ENTRY AND THEFT. Terence John McKenna, on a charge of having broken and entered the house of iienry Benjamin, Swanson Road, Henderson, on November 13, and having stolen a watch and chain and two greenstone pendants, of a total value of £5 10s was a3) fOT S6Ven dayS " Bail Waxed Cecil Love- and George Smith Ormiston, wl T<? f braklD an entering the v £ o4 Dg G ? a ß' at *«««*£, -on November 27, and stealing clothing and Chinese books worth £16 3s 6d, were s4ieach remanded. Bail to* fixed at £150