GAMBLING IN HOTEL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21278, 3 September 1932, Page 10

GAMBLING IN HOTEL

POKER PLAYED WITH DICE LICENSEE FINED £lO SEQUEL TO POLICE VISIT LIQUOR ILLEGALLY SOLD The licensee of tho Empire Hotel, Charles E. Adams, was charged in the Police Court yesterday with opening his hotel for the sale of liquor after hours, with selling liquor after hours, and with permitting gambling on licensed premises. He pleaded not guilty. Evidence was given by John Wilfred Anderson, motor-driver, that at about 10 p.m. on Juno 27 he went to the Empire Hotel and was admitted to the building by defendant. On going into tho private bar witness saw five other men drinking and having a game of poker with dice. Witness did not join in the game, but subsequently played with defendant. They started with "a shilling in," but the amount gradually increased until it reached 5s a toss. Witness met with little success. "We had three throws at £1 each to see if 1 could even myself," continued witness. "I had £7 when I went into the hotel, but had only £1 left when wo had finished gambling and after I had paid for three bottles of stout, which cost 3s. When we were playing I caught Adams holding, one of tho dice in his fingers while shaking, and I remonstrated with him. He told me to 'get out quick,' and let me out of tho hotel himself. I complained to a police constable and later returned to the hotel in company with him and two sergeants. Adams admitted us and we went to the private bar, where I made a statement to one of the sergeants in tho presence of Adams, who denied what I said and that I had been in the hotel that night."

Police at the Hotel Witness said he had visited the hotel on two other occasions after hoijrs and had gambled there. On these occasions defendant had asked witness and the other men present what their names were and had allocated rooms to them as if they were boarders. Sergeant Clist said that when he, Sergeant Dunn, Constable Stewart and complainant went to the hotel at 11.55 p.m. on June 27 they had difficulty in gaining entrance. Witness knocked four times and kicked on the door before defendant admitted the party. When questioned defendant denied that complainant or other men who were not boarders had been in the hotel that night an£ that gambling had been in progress, although witness ! found a set of poker dice under the counter in the bar. The boarders' register showed that a number of rooms were booked, but in several instances witness could find no trace of the alleged occupants or their luggage. The register revealed that the name of "Anderson" had been entered twice on two earlier occasions.

Sergeant Dunn gave corroborative evidence. Defendant Denies Charges Defendant, in evidence, said complainant had not been in the hotel on the night in question and no gambling had take place. He did not keep a fictitious boarders' register and he could not account for the fact that certain boarders and their luggage were not in their rooms when the polico called. Complainant had visited the hotel previously, but had never gambled there and had purchased no liquor after hours.

A brother of defendant, who was boarding at tho hotel, said complainant was not in the private bar of the hotel on the night in question, prior to his arrival with the police. Evidence was also given by another man, whose name was in the boarders' register. He said he slept in the hotel on tho night of Juno 27, and ho could not. account for the fact that, when the police revisited the hotel at 7.30 on the following morning the bed lie had occupied was made up as if it had not been used. The magistrate, Mr. F. Iv. Hunt, said ho was prepared to believe the evidence of the polico and complainant, and would enter convictions on all counts. Defendant did not appear to be a suitable man to have a licence. Defendant was fined £lO and costs on the charge of permitting gambling in the hotel and his licence was endorsed. On the other counts he was convicted and discharged.