GAMING HOUSE CHARGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21258, 11 August 1932, Page 12

GAMING HOUSE CHARGES

ONE MAN FINED £IOO

PROSECUTIONS AT ROTORUA

BETS MADE BY CONSTABLE

[BY TEI.EGIUrn —OWN' correspondent] ROTORUA, Wednesday As a sequel to raids by the police in Rotorua on July 16 three men camo bofore Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., in .tho Rotorua Magistrate's Court to-day on charges of breaches of the Gaming Act. John S. Maskery was charged with keeping a common gaming house and with carrying on business as a bookmaker. Constable It. F. Chater, of Hamilton, said that on June 4 he went to a room in Mau's Building, Rotorua, and found four men there with accused, who was sitting at a table. lie made a bet and saw another man make a bet. Later ho made another bet. The room was used for no other purpose. Detective Thompson, in evidence, said that on July 16 ho executed a search warrant at Mau's Buildings. When asked whether he was doing any betting, accused said ho was in tho employ of Hori Mau. Accused said lie had been previously a hairdresser occupying a saloon on tho premises. Ho was unable to make it pay and had been employed to collect bets for Mau at a salary of £3 a week. Tho charge of keeping a gaming liouso was dismissed. On tho charge of carrying on business as a bookmaker accused was fined £lO. Dispute Regarding a Double Michael J. Hefferen was charged with keeping a gaming house, carrying on business as a bookmaker and with taking bets on totalisator odds. Ho pleaded not guilty. In evidence Constable Chater said ho visited the premises of defendant, who was a hairdresser and tobacconist, on Juno 4. Ho was shown a double chart by a man who was employed by Hefferen. 110 took a double. Ho had other bets later in tho day with accused. R. Morrison, lorry-driver, gave evidence that he had made bets at the premises in May with an assistant. Ho took a double, which won, but as ho did not put tho money down ho was not paid, although he had betted previously without paying at the time and had paid later. He contended that the chart belonged to Hefferen and as Hefferen would not pay ho informed the police. Senior-Sergeant E. Carroll said ho searched tho premises on July 16. No betting material was found on the premises. Accused denied betting. Fine of £2O Imposed Hefferen, in evidence, said lie had dismissed two employees for taking bets and ho told Morrison he had nothing to do with it. He did not remember making a bet with the constable. The magistrate said the evidence went to prove that the premises had been used for betting purposes with defendant's knowledge and assistance. A fine of £2O was imposed for carrying on business as a bookmaker, in default three 'months' imprisonment. On the charge of laying totalisator odds Hefferen was fined £5, in default 14 days' imprisonment. The charge of keeping a gaming house was dismissed. Hori Mau was charged with conducting the business of a common gaming house on Juno 4, and abetting John S. Maskery in carrying on business as a bookmakei. Constable Chater, in evidence, said that he went to Rotorua on Juno 4 and went into Mau's Buildings and saw accused thcro. He asked whether he could make a bet and Mau pointed to a room, saying that a young man in there would fix him up. Witness made bets with a man named Maskery. Statement Contradicted John S. Maskery, an ex-jockey, said ho had been carrying on business as a hairdresser in Mau's Buildings, which he gave up because it was not paying. Ho did not pay rent to accused for the room that was used for betting. The statement lie had given to tho police was not correct, said witness, as he had carried on tho business of bookmaker on his own account. Constable Kelly said that he had known accused for tho past two years and that ho had followed no other occupation than that of a bookmaker. He was either owner or occupier of the premises. The magistrate said there was not the slightest doubt that accused had tHe use of the premises and that in conjunction with Maskery he was carrying on the business of bookmaking. A fino of £IOO was stated that, there were four previous convictions against the accused. Tho other charge against Mau was adjourned until August 22.