BETTING IN SHOPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19550, 1 February 1927, Page 15

BETTING IN SHOPS.

HEAVY FINES IMPOSED. WELLINGTON PROSECUTIONS. PREMISES VISITED BY POLICE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Monday. Heavy fines were imposed by Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M , oc two men charged in the Magistrate's Court to-day with using the premises in which they carried on their respective businesses as common gaming houses. The first man was George William Wood, aged 38, who occupied a butcher's shop in Riddiford Street. Chief-Detective Ward said owing to complaints a constable in .plain clothes had been sent to defendant's premises and on two occasions had taken-two bets with defendant at totalisator odds, He was paid on the winning bets. Y T esterday morning the police searched the premises and £24 in money was found. No betting slips were discovered. Defendant had been fined £35 last April for a similar offence. Wood told the magistrate he had thrown the bookmaking business up, although many came into his shop and make bets. The constable had asked if he would make up a ticket with him. They had four little bets and they were successful. "I consider I have been gulled into this," said defendant. "TC would never have taken place if the constable had not come in. It was an absolute surprise when the detectives arrived. They would not have caught me any time during the last few months." "You have beei® previously convicted," said the magistrate, "so you must have known the risk you ran. You will be convicted and fined £SO, in default three months' imprisonment." Defendant: Fifty pounds! That's scandalous. The Magistrate: You have no right to criticise the penalty of the Court. Do you want time to pay the amount ? Defendant was allowed one month in which to pay. ' The second defendant, George Frederick Leney, aged 34, pleaded guilty to using his tobacconist shop at 66, Dixon Street, as a common gaming house. Chief-Detective Ward stated that the man had been carrying on a bookmaker's business for some time. Yesterday morning when the premises were searched a quantity of betting material and £lOl 18s 6d had been found, £6O of the money being to pay a double for which the accused had been struck on the previous Saturday. He had been fined £3O last April for betting on the same premises. "These unfortunate men are really badgered into this continuous business," said counsel for defendant, Mr. 11. P. Putnam. •'lie must have known what to expect," said the magistrate. "He has been caught before, yet he deliberately elects to try again. He will be convicted and fined £SO, in default three months' imprisonment."' One week was given in which to pay the amount.