ALLEGED BOOKMAKING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18395, 10 May 1923, Page 9

ALLEGED BOOKMAKING.

VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY.

CASE AGAINST WATEESIDER.

JUDGE AND THE LAW.

A waterside worker, Frederick Howard (Mr. Blakey), appeared in the Supreme Court- yesterday before Mr. Justice Herdman charged with having published' and publicly exhibited a double chart and having carried on the business of a bookmaker. • Mr Paterson conducted the case for the Crown. Evidence was given by Detective Meiklejohn that on January 24 he boarded a beery boat which was conveying people to the waterside workers' picnic. Accused entered the cabin and conversed with another man about races. A meeting was being held that day at Wellington, and races were to-be held two or three days later at. Takapuna. After a short conversation tho man leaned over and said to accused that he would take a double. Witness did not hear the names mentioned. . Accused produced a note-book and double chart on the Takapuna Cup and the Stewards' Handicap. The odds wore £6 to 2s 6d. Twenty-two doubles had been laid on that card, representing £2 15s. After looking at tho card accused said "Right," marked it, and made an entry in the book Begged.. lor a Chance. - Witness then stepped ovei to the accused and asked to be allowed to look at the chart. After looking at it witness said, " What are you doing with this? Police here." Accused appeared dumbfounded. He tried to get off the boat 011 to the wharf but witness prevented him. He gave a wrong name, but when pressed gave his correct name, but an inaccurate address. Accused admitted he had laid doubles, but said he had only been running a card on tho local meetings for about three months. He offered witness £2 not to report him, but the offer was refused. Accused begged for a chance, and other men on the boat said he was a decent man who deserved a 1 chance. Subsequently witness . said he had considered the matter and would give the accused a chance. Later, however, witness discovered another double chart in the accused's book relating to the Wellington races, that were run the same day. Thirty-two doubles had been laid. The book showed 49 doubles on two races at the Takapuna meeting. Witness interviewed accused on February 12 and told Howard that ho had wilfully misled witness and that witness had reported him. , ' Cross-examined, witness stated that the man with whom the accused made the bet on the ferry boat had denied that accused had a. book or chart in his possession. Witness did not ask the man if he had made a bet with the accused. Witness knew that accused had been guilty of bookmaking when he said he would give the accused a chance. Subsequently witness v discovered that Howard had been; bookmaking for over 12 months. He knew from records in the office that the accused had been fined for bookmaking. ' Evidence was also given by Detective Robertson and Constable Doel. The latter stated ' that he knew the accused to be a bookmaker. .. . Defence Offers No Evidence. No evidence was called for the defence. His Honor, summing up, said there might be 'differences of opinion as to the wisdom of certain legislation. The Court had nothing to do with that. If Parliament passed a law it was his duty to administer it. The duty of the jury was equally clear. It was their duty to return: a verdict according to their oaths otherwise the administration of justice in New Zealand would be reduced to a scandal. It was ; impossible to come to any other conclusion than that the accused was guilty of bookmaking if the evidence was. to be believed. Tho jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and the accused was discharged.