BOOKMAKER'S MISTAKE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 17

BOOKMAKER'S MISTAKE

DETECTIVES APPROACHED FINE OF £lO IMPOSED When a motor-car stopped in an Avondale Street on Monday a man approached the occupants and offered them a double-chart on the* races. Unfortunately for him, the occupants were detectives, and the man, Arthur Ernest Tapp, billiard-marker, aged 44, appeared in the P'olice Court yesterday charged with bookmaking. Senior-Detective Hall said that at 12.25 p.m. on Monday a motor-car occupied by Detectives Alpin and Waterson went down Racecourse Parade, which leads from Avondale to the racecourse. There was a crowd standing watching the start of a race near the street. Defendant left the crowd, went up to the detectives, and handed them a home-made double chart, asking them if they would like a double at £1 to Is on the second and third races. He had £22 7s in his possession, but there was no evidence that defendant was anything more than a small bookmaker. He had only recently arrived from Australia. Defendant said he was taking only small bets. "Still, that is bookmaking and it is illegal; you know that as well as I do, and 1 cannot pass it over," said the magistrate, Mr. P. K. Hunt, imposing a fine of £lO, in default one month's imprisonment. A week was allowed in which to pay.