BETTING WITH BOYS.

NZ Truth, Issue 169, 12 September 1908, Page 6

BETTING WITH BOYS.

Jack Gill Fetches a "Fin."

In the rush and tear and holler arid yell and assorted excitement that precedes a race at Riccarton, hands containing coin are thrust under the noses of bookies, and tickets are issued with the speed of a no-license crank hurling curses on the liquor traffic, "the loud-voiced Tommies pause not to inquire a person! s age, but shriek that the prices are on the board and pouch ' the cash with avidity. A youngster named Edward Cunningham, who will ■be eighteen years next Guy Fawkes Day, and. works m, the. Addington workshops, attended the National meeting on the last day and had a dead sure thing given him m Pretty Nell for the Sydenham . Hurdles. He' only had 6d but he induced two other youths to part up Is, each, and he- then put half a dollar •on the mare that has since been disqualified at the Amberley meeting. Unfortunately for Jack Gill, that metallician was chosen as the layer of sto lo n., the prad, which didn't see-the way that Stormont went, and the investment was a disastrous one. The' full strength of the disaster appeared later, however, when 'Tees. Kennedy and Hammond confiscated the ticket, arid presented it to Gill, who acknowledged his signature, but didn't recollect seeing the youngster. In any case he thought that youths over 16 v/ovc entitled to bet.

Solicitor Cassidy submitted that under section 4 of the Gaming Act there were thrje necessary ingredients to constitute an offence : (1) the bet must be made ; (2) it must be made with an infant ; (3) the accused must know it is made with an infant. On the question of knowledge, IT WAS A MATTER OF CONJECTURE how old the young man was, particularly on a racecourse, where jockeys were known as "boys," yet were thirty and forty years of age. Moreover, it was hard to distinguish bettors m the excitement just preceding a race, and many punters who handed m coin were concealed behind others.

GiU gave evidence on his own behalf, and acknowledged to Ohief 'Tecj. Bishop

that he had once previously been charged witih illegal betting, but the prosecution had failed.

Counsel protested vigorously against the importation of this matter, but Magistrate Bishop said it didn't affect his decision. His Worship held the view that the whole business was demoralising m the extreme ; still there was the law which permitted betting on the ; racecourse. At the same time infants were protected, and a fine of £5 and costs was imposed.