BOOKMAKING CHARGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 16

BOOKMAKING CHARGES.

[THREE MEN FINED £IOO EACH.

& AMONG LARGEST IN CITY."

SEQUEL TO POLICE RAIDS

PENALTIES FOR ASSISTANTS. Three men described by the police as being amdng the largest bookmakers in .Auckland were each fined the maximum penalty of £IOO in the Police Court yesterday on charges of using premises in the city as common gaming-houses. They were Robert Francis Dennett, aged 45, clerk, of Dcvonport, Francis Brewer, aged 41, clerk, of Epsom, and Raymond Lewis, aged 40, clerk, of Remuera. Tho' arrests were made by detectives on Thursday. Detective-Sergeant McHugh visited Bennett's office ,at 25, Swanson Chambers, Swanson Street, while Detective /Nalder and Acting-Detective Mills went to Brewer's office at 10, Vulcan Lane. Lewis' premises in His Majesty's [Arcade, pueen Street, were raided by lActing-Detective Bolton. Pleas of guilty wore entered by all the accused. It was stated that all had teen before the Court previously. Arrested on Bennett's premises Frederick Jarno? Dryland, aged 27, labourer, of Bayswatcr, was charged with assisting in the management of a common gaminghouse. Austin McCormick, aged 33, clerk, /of Mount Albert, was similarly charged in respect of Brewer's office. Each accused, who pleaded guilty, was fined £lO. Found on Lewis' premises Alfred Kicolls, aged 66, seaman, and Louis Atger, afeed 22, labourer, were charged with being unlawfully on premises known as a common gaming-house. Hiey were each fined £2. "He is one of the mugs .who go to these places for bets," De-tective-Sergeant Kelly said when asked by tho magistrate what Atger was doing on the premises. Racecards, slips, charts and various betting material were said to, have been discovered in each office, where there were telephones. Detective-Sergeant Kelly said that Lewis was in the employ of Clarrie Russell, one of the three leading bookmakers in the city. At the moment Russell was out of town. Lewis had £55 in his possession. / A fine /of £IOO had once before been imposed on Bnwer, wlio was in a big way, Mr., Kelly added. McCormick was his assistant and it was his first offence. "Oh, well," said tho magistrate with a smile, in fining Brewer the maximum sum, - "I do not suppose a leopard can chance his spots." j ( ''Bennett is known as the 'Busy Bee,' ' Mr. Kelly said. "He has, been fined before." Bennett had over £4O on him when arrested.

Seven, days were allowed in each case to enable the accused to p£>y the penalties.