"BOWLED OUT"

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11226, 3 June 1922, Page 8

"BOWLED OUT"

HAZARD PLAYER’S CONFESSION. THE BERHAMPORE RAID. Though he pleaded not guilty to playing “two-up,” at- Berhampore, on Sunday last, when the police made a little informal call and incidentally arrested several men, a man named Abraham Brown, who was brought before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Magistrate s Court yesterday, unconsciously admitted hisi, guilt in nn attempt to correct the evidence of a police witness. “I plead guilty to being on the premises,” said Brown, “but not to playing ‘two-up.’ ... I wasn’t talcing part in the game.” Sub-Inspector McNamara stated that the polioe bad raided a plboe in Berhampore on Sunday, May 28th, when a two-up school were busy whiling away the empty hours. The defendant was, at that time, holding an office as a “scout,” but visited the ring periodically to collect a “divvy” for his services, this being one of the arrangements of the school.

Constable Pellew gave evidenoe as to having 'seen, the defendant go to tho ring and oolect his levy on three occasions. When the police were coming, the defendant signalled and said “Scatter 1 Hero’s the police.” It was a game which was played by the winners while the losers “looked on.”

As one of those present on the night in question, Patrick Dockerty said the defendant was acting as a sentry. He visited the ring three times to collect his “levy.” This was an arrangement made by the school in which the winners “pooled,” to compensate the man on “look-out” for his vigilanoe and consequent inability to attend the active functions of the ring. The defendant availed himself of the opportunity to oross-examine the witness. “How many times did you say you saw mo visit the ring?”—“About three times.”

Tho defendant: “Well, I never. I only went down to the ring once.— (Prolonged laughter.) ' After that, the Magistrate did not want to hear any more evidence, and fined Brown £3 and costs.