BOOKMAKER IN COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20629, 30 July 1930, Page 14

BOOKMAKER IN COURT.

FOUNO GUILTY BY JURY.

TRANSACTIONS AT HOTEL.

A BET TAKEN AFTER RACE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Three charges of carrying on business as a, bookmaker in Wellington were brought against Stanley William Findlay in the Supremo Court to-clay before tlio Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, and a jury. 110 was* found guilty and was romanded until Friday for sentence. Mr. Macassey, Crown Prosecutor, said that tlio offences wero alleged to have oc curred on April 19, 21 and 26. Two police officers visited the Te Aro Hotel whero one of thern asked if ho could placo a bet. Accused was in a room adjoining tlio bar and came out. Ho took a bet of 10s on a horse at the Tauhero nikau races and also on other horses. Subsequently accused was arrested and a substantial amount of money, betting slips, raco books and account books were taken by the police. Constable Campion said ho visited the To Aro Hotel on April 19 and entered the privato bar, where ho saw Findlay, and made a bet of 10s on Dainty Day 3t the Tauherenikau races. Subsequently ho had other betting transactions with accused. The Bet on Dainty Day. To Mr. Leicester, who appeared for accused, witness said he went to tho hotel for no other purpose than to get a bet on with accused The bet on Dainty Day was made at 3.54 p.m. Mr. Leicester pointed out (hat that was 19 minutes after the race had started. Witness said ho reckoned on tho race taking placo about 4 o'clock. He did not know tho race had taken placo at tho time, and that he did not get a run for his money. On April 26 witness went to tho hotel again and on a signal from him Detective Murray and his officers followed. Accused was arrested.

Constable Lockie gave evidence of visiting the hotel and endeavouring to got a bet on with Findlny, who refused, saying he did not bet with strangers. Detective Murray said he went to tlio hotel on April 26, where ho saw accused and arrested him on warrant. ITo had £42 in notes and £1 Us 5d in change. A quantity of betting material was seized. Accused did not go into the witness box. Contentions Tor Defence. Mr. Leicester submitted that the Crown sought to provo that betting material found in the room belonged to accused because the writing on some of tho papers corresponded with accused signature in tho "property" book at tho police station. Was ifc likely that a bookmaker would accept a bet 19 minutes after the race was run ? If he did ho would bo regarded as a very dishonest bookmaker. Counsel quoted the Oxford dictionary as to tho meaning of betting, which was to tho effect that it was a wager on an uncertain event. In regard to the bet on Dainty Day he urged that the race had taken place, so that it was not a wager on something uncertain. In regard to other bets thero was little corroboration. No part of the material was found actually in the possession of accused and tho use of tho room was open to other people in tho hotel.

His Honor briefly summed up and the jury, after an absence of about 40 minutes, found accused guilty. Findlny was remanded until Friday for sentence.