SUBSTANTIAL FINES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11302, 30 August 1922, Page 5

SUBSTANTIAL FINES

COMMON GAMING-HOUSE. BOOKMAKING IN HOTEL. James Donnelly and Harry Slater appeared before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, on charges of using the premises of the New Zealander Hotel as a common gaming-house. The charge against Donnelly was laid in connection with a “room” of the hotel, but Slater had evidently carried on his business in the bar. Chief-Detective Kemp explained that, in accordance with the provisions of the Gaming Act. the accused had been arrested under warrant and charged with the offences, by ActingDetectives Tongue, Walsh, and Revell. Donnelly was a bookmaker, and had been carrying on business in the New Zealander Hotel. Slater had stated that he had been taking bets in the interests of Donnelly. Donnelly, however, denied this. In 1919, Donnelly bad been before the court on a similar charge as the present one, and had been fined £3O. Mr O’Leary said that the charges against the accused were that they had used the promises in question as a common gaming-house. This could hardly stand, since the accused were not resident on the premises.. The defendants, however, had pleaded guilty, because there "were more serious charges of a similar nature, which could be preferred against them by the police. Donnelly was in only a small way of business as a bookmaker. He was in a rather delicate state of health, and was unable to do hard work. In all, only about twelve bets had com© Donnelly’s way, through tho agency of Slater. In view of the fact that the defendants had pleaded guilty, and had thus saved the court considerable trouble and expense, counsel asked that they he dealt witß as leniently 3*3 possible. Donnelly was fined £3O and Slater £2O.