SPIELERS CONVICTED.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4478, 4 October 1901, Page 5

SPIELERS CONVICTED.

FKNUI ASSOCIATION. WAMGAiN Ul, October 3. . At the Police Court to-day live me* arrested on the racecourse on the first day ot the races were charged with bay* ing no visible means of support. i!lvi» dence was given by the pouce to the effect that the accused frequented racecourses and made their living by "tote” betting and giving .‘‘tips.’ 1, Mr Kettlh, S.M., m giving judgment, said that jd<i» fendunts were charged with being idle and disorderly persons within the fncao* ing of section 556 of the Police Offences Act. The evidence showed that choy had no visible lawful means of support, and the question which the'Court fiad to determine under this section of the Act was whether they had given a good aocount of their means of support to tha satisfaction of the Court. The evidence showed, and defendants themselves ad* mitted, they gained their livelihood by travelling about New Zealand from race* course to racecourse, backing horses on the totalisator and giving “tips'’ to persons who wished to invest money on luo totalisator. Mr Kettle held that this wa« not recognised by respectable people as a legitimate method of obtaining s ■ livelihood, and a« thi* was the' only way in which the defendants obtained their subsistence, he' could not hold that they . had given a good account of their means of support. Defendants were therefore convicted of being idle and disorderly persons. Mr Kettle counselled defend* ants to abandon'their mode of life and to seek some honourable employment. If they continued in their present path it would result in only one thing—gaol. Defendants were convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when' called V|u on.