NICHOLL NABBED

NZ Truth, Issue 508, 13 March 1915, Page 9

NICHOLL NABBED

A Vulcan-lane Bar Von

Tuned-up for Twenty

As everyone knows, "tote" betting, despite the Gaming Act and much wowsering by wowserdom, still goes on and will do so so long as the totalIsator is a legalised betting facility on racecourses. Bookmakers will bet and punters will punt — it is their religion — and no matter whether our magistrates impose the century, the maximum allowed by Law, upon even first offenders, bookmaking is LIKE THE RED PLAGUE, and will never be thoroughly stamped out. During the last year or so the police and detectives of Auckland have, one might say, made a special effort to gather m the Bar Vons, and not without some success either, as charges against persons for betting ai*e by no means uncommon m Auckland. As m all other professions, the bookmaker is divided into, two classes, the honest and tho dishonest, the latter better known as the welsher. And It is m Auckland that the welsher makes his home. More than once has "Truth" had occasion to write anent some grievance of a punter who paid to a Bar Yon who didn't, but it would seem that "Truth's" warnings- werp not heeded, ;a fact which more than one [ punter has reason to regret. : . , =: Last week Henry Nicholl (48) was gathered m by the "demons". _ on a charge of frequenting Vulcan Lane for the purpose of betting on- February 27. Nicholl pleaded guilty and Detective Scott, who prosecuted, told^MagIstrate Cutten that Nicholls had been laying 'em on tho Wanganui races. Both "Demons" Scott and Quartermain PUT IN A GOOD WORD' for. Nicholl, stating that they were.under the impression, that he had hot.made a bet for some time. Anyway, thanks to the good build given him by the "demons" Magistrate Cutten imposed tho minimum penalty of £20, and this m the face of Nlcholl's two previous convictions.