GAMING CHARGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22617, 4 January 1937, Page 11

GAMING CHARGES

RACES AT ELLEESLIE SALOON KEEPER FINED £25 ASSISTANT'S £5 PENALTY "These men who flout the law deliberately ought to be sports when they arc discovered—lor they must expect to he discovered at some time—and take their gruel," said .Mr. C. 1!. Orr Walker, S.M., in the Police Court on Saturday, when George (Chapman, bil-liard-room keeper, aged 52, was charged with using premises as a common gaining house, and Neil Morris, clerk, aged 21, was charged with assisting in ijs management. Accused, who were represented by Mr. Singer, pleaded guilty. Detective-Sergeant McLlugh said complaints were received about Chapman's operations and on December 29 detectives had no difficulty in laying bets with him. Chapman was the principal and worked between his- billiard saloon and the hotel at Ellerslie. On New Year's Day a warrant was executed and detectives found Morris taking telephoned bets, 22 bets between 2s 6d and 10s having been entered for the Kllerslie races that day. Doubles also were arranged. "Morris frankly admitted that he assisted Chapman, receiving £1 a day for the work," Mr. McHugh continued. "He is on sustenance and availed himself (if the opportunity of making this money. He has not been in trouble before. Chapman was not in when the premises were visited, but ho later came to the police and confessed, saying Morris only worked for him. Nothing has previously been known against him." Mr. Singer said Chapman, who was married and had four children, only took over the billiard saloon last February. Before that he was employed for .'l2 years by a, man who took his son into the business and dismissed Chapman, through no fault of the latter. Defendant found difficulty in earning a livelihood and adopted bookmaking in order to obtain sufficient to keep his family. Chapman was fined £25 and costs, 10s, and Morris was fined £5 and costs, 10s, a week being allowed for payment. The magistrate said Morris had been a foolish young man and warned him that he could expect a more severe penalty if he came before the Court again. He pointed out that imprisonment was an alternative penalty for the offence. ARREST BY DETECTIVES BAIL OF £IOO ALLOWED Arrested by detectnes early on Saturday afternoon, Arthur George Williams, aged 41, was charged before Mr. W. Kane, J.P., with using his premises at 65 Pitt Street as a common gaming house. He was remanded on bail of £IOO and will appear in the Police Court to-day.