BOOKMAKER FINED £20.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21086, 21 January 1932, Page 11

BOOKMAKER FINED £2O.

CHARGE TWO YEARS OLD. INCIDENT AT TANGARAKAU. [FROM OUR own correspondent.] HAMILTON, "Wednesday. An offence which was committed at Tangarakau, near Stratford, years ago had its sequel in the Hamilton Magistrate's Court to-day, when Richard Smith, aged 41, was charged with carrying on the business of a bookmaker. A plea of guilty was entered. Senior-Sergeant Sweeney said that in June, 1929, the accused was living at Tangarakau, Taranaki, and for the previous 12 months had been bookmaking. When a constable was speaking to another resident, the accused came up and presented the constable's companion with a double chart. Bets were made by both men with accused. Before the summons was issued the accused left the district and was arrested at Murupora a few days ago. Counsel said accused had lost £2OO at bookmaking and had given up the occupation before leaving Tangarakau. He did not know of the issue of the summons before he left. The magistrate, Mr. Wyveam Wilson, remarked that- accused was the first bookmaker who had admitted having lost money at the business. It was a remarkable coincidence that he should have given up bookmaking and left the district between the time the constable saw him and the issue of the summons without knowing that the police were taking proceedings. The magistrate said ho would take into account the fact that the offence occurred before the depression set in. Accused was fined £2O, in default two months' imprisonment-.