ANTICS IN COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20602, 28 June 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

ANTICS IN COURT.

WINKING AT THE JURY.

RACING TIPSTER'S ROGUERY.

For upwards of two hours a 66-year-old bookmaker, named John Haw-tin, kept tho Beading Court in continuous laughter. Hawtin's conduct was most, extraordinary* Ho studied racing form ftorti a book and pointed out " probables" to frowning gaolers on either side of him; lie winked and saluted the jury to emphasise points in tho evidence; ho reproved tho Judge for "knowing so little about betting"; and expressed the opinion that the jury had more sense than counsel.

Ilawtin was charged with stealing 10s from Mrs. Elsie Lawrence. He lodged with her for a night and shid that to repay her for her kindness to him he had put 10s on a horso for her and her husband. Ho ashed if she had 10s in silver, and sho handed him that sum, expecting hitn to give her a 10s note, but ho did not do so, and she saw no uioro of him. A detective described Ilawtin as a cunning and plausible rogue. He had been 22 times convicted —the first occasion in 1878 when, at tho age of 13. he was sent to an industrial school for stealing 6d. His second conviction was in 1800, when bo was sent tn prison for robbery with violence. There were convictions against him also at Dieppe. Karlsbad, and also in New Zealand In 1927 ho was sentenced to six months at Brighton for stealing £7O from a woman. He met the woman and her servant on Brighton promenade, and pro posed marriage to her, saying that he owned a racing stable near Lewes. The woman accepted him, and gave him £7O to put on a horso which* he declared, hp knew was going to win. After the Judge had listened to Hawtin's career of crime, he remarked, " You have a terrible record." Hawtin immediately (lung .out his arms and exclaimed, "Can't you let .bygones be bygones ?" He was sent to penal servitude for throe yearsi