SEQUEL TO POLICE RAID

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22108, 14 May 1935, Page 8

SEQUEL TO POLICE RAID

COMMON GAMING HOUSE! FINE OF £IOO INFLICTED COMMENT BY THE MAGISTRATE [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] GISBQRNE, Monday As a sequel to a police raid on April 29 Arthur Owen was charged in the Gisborne Police Court to-day with keeping a common gaming house.. He pleaded guilty to two charges relating to separate buildings, but the. magistrate decided to treat the matter as one business with two branches. Malcolm John Owen, son of accused, and Frederick L. Kenny both pledded guilty to assisting in the conduct of a gaming house. Detective McLeod said that for the past six weeks a special constable had watched activities at the .elder Owen's premises, which included a tobacconist's shop and a block of offices opposite. The constable laid several bets at the shop. A search warrant was executed and large quantities of betting material were seized. Accused was, apart from his bookmaking, a good citizen. He appeared before the Court in 19-3.3, when he was fined £IOO. The magistrate, Mr. E. L. Walton, convicted accused and fined him £IOO, The other two accused were each fined £•25. Detective McLeod asked for an order for the confiscation of betting material taken by the police in the raid. This comprised 134 wagers in books in tho shop. The Magistrate: Does that mean that he may be unable to pay out? Detective McLeod: That is so. "I do not think I can go as far as that," said Mr. Walton. "The position might be that, although accused is fined £IOO, he might make more than he would lose. It might not be he who would pay the fine, but those who had made wagers with him. 1 "Before they are confiscated I think his solicitor should, be allowed to make any necessary notes from them, in order that accused may meet any obligations. It is usual to confiscate instruments of betting, but I think that, in common justice, accused should be in a position to meet his obligations.-' Detective McLeod agreed to afford counsel the facilities suggested by the Court.