GAMING OFFENCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23196, 16 November 1938, Page 21

GAMING OFFENCES

. betting in hotels three men in court [ PENALTIES TOTAL £155 . COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE Three men charged with betting in jjotel bars pleaded guilty in the Police Court yesterday before Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M. The accused were John Cornelius Mangan, labourer, aged 51, James Percy McCabe, insurance agent, aged 48 (Mr. Wright), and Charles Tretheway, hawker, aged 58 (Mr. Schramm). Detective-Sergeant Nalder prosecuted. "We allege that Mangan is associated with McCabe and I suggest that JlcCabe's plea bo taken with Manpan's," said Mr. Nalder. "These two men have been working together in a suburban hotel for a little while in double and straight-out betting. When interviewed by Detectivo-Sergeant Aplin *hoy admitted that thoy lmd been betting." ' "Quito a Large Business" Mangan was working as an agent for McCabe, added Mr. balder. They did quite a large business. Nothing was known against Mangan, but McCabe had been twice previously prosecuted for gaming. Ho was convicted in 1932, gince when his business had branched O U t considerably. Mangan was not in good health and was unable to work. For McCabe Mr. Wright said it was true accused was last before the Court 1932. He was an insurance agent and having been engaged in betting in the past he got connected with it again in travelling about with his work. He had not been engaged isolely as a bookmaker. ■ . The circumstances were entirely different in the case of Mangan, said counsel. He was unable to work owing to'ill-health, and as a friend of McCabe he had obliged him by accepting some Jiets for him. . A Bad Practice -"Betting in a hotel bar is looked on lis a bad'practice," said the magistrate in imposing a fine of £7O, or two months' imprisonment, on McCabe. Siangan was fined £ls, or three weeks' imprisonment. "This man has been doing hotel bar betting," said Mr. Nalder, when referring to Tretheway. "When interviewed by Detective-Sergeant Aplin he admitted he had been doing this business. He runs a double chart, but it is not a big one. ■He has been before the Court before and was fined £100." Accused's business was not as extensive as it was previously, said Mr. Nalder. He worked for a while after his conviction, but was unable to now, as he was crippled with rheumatism. Mr. Schramm submitted that accused jras dealing only in small transactions imd was unable to work. "I sujppose it is not his fault that his business is not bigger," said the magistrate. "I cannot overlook the fact iof his -previous conviction." Accused Was fined £7O, or two months' imprisonment. ■ A 3ARMAH CONVICTED OPERATING AS AN AGENT 1 A barman,,' John William Charles Rush, aged 2s ? who appeared before Mr. J. 8. Morlmg, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday,, pleaded guilty to a {charge of canying on the business of j& bookmaker on November 5. Detective-Sergeant Nalder . said aor hnsed had been interviewed by DetectiveSergeant . Aplin and admitted: he was carrying on the business of a bookmaker as an agent. There was no suggesition. that he was in a large way of business or that he had operated for any length of time.,, He had never been before the Court before. Accased was fined £3O, or one toonth's imprisonment, and was allowed fc'ttonth in which to pay the fine.