POLICE RAID HOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20724, 18 November 1930, Page 12

POLICE RAID HOUSE.

GAMING LAW BREACHES.

OWNER FINED SUM OF £IOO

OFFER TO "SQUARE IT" ALLEGED

"He offered to 'square me' with £100," Raid Detective Snedden in tho Police Court yesterday, when John Johnson, aged 60, labourer, was charged with keeping a common gaming house at Epsom. Accused, who was represented by Mr. Lovegrove, entered a plea of guilty.

Detective-Sergeant Kelly said that on November I'2 a constable visited accused s houso and made two bets. Later, the constable telephoned to accused, but was nnablo to get further money "on. ' When detectives called at accused s place on Saturday last they found extensive betting material. There were telephones in the house, one in an office and another in the hall, and the detectives took at least 20 bets over the telephone in an hour and ahalf. Accused was apparently doing business in a big way, as two of the bets were of £lO, while records showed that in two days recently £197 had been paid out to "clients." One of tho detectives had reported that while in the house accused wanted to "square" him with £IOO, so that the matter would not come before tho Court. Accused also told the officers that his wife had burned all material connected with the, betting mid ;t was therefore useless to search the house. As far as was known accused had never been convicted in the pfist for any offence: "It is extremely difficult to say anything new in mitigation of such an offence," said counsel. The police made a very thorough search of the house, lasting three hours, but apart from two or three telephone calls there was no evidence of betting. Counsel had known accused, who was really a farmer, for many years and he was "a very decent chap." If the police had gone to him and warned him he would have given it up. He did not offer the detective money, but said he would rather pay £IOO into Court than have a conviction recorded against himThe magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt: That is the part I do not like.

Detective Snedden said that while in the back office at the house accused wanted to know if there was any way out of the trouble, and offered to pay witness £IOO to "square" it.

The Magistrate: He was willing to pay £IOO. Ho is therefore fined £IOO, in default three months' imprisonment.