Laying Tote Odds

NZ Truth, 15 March 1924, Page 8

Laying Tote Odds

AN ANTIDOTE FOR NERVOUS BREAKDOWN. £30 Fine Imposed. He did it for the good of his health was the substance of Lawyer Leary's plea when Henry Butterworth, aged 54, appeared at the Auckland Police Court before Messrs. A. Rosser and W. J. Hammill, J.P.s, with six charges of laying totalisator odds against him. A plea of, not guilty was' entered m the first instance, but this was reversed after hearing the evidence for the prosecution. The police also withdrew a further, charge that the accused had carried oh the business of a maker.RESsULT OF A DISPUTE. George. Daniel Farrell, a laborer, said that he had known Butterworth for 26 years, but did** not know what he did for a. living- During the past two years he had had a wager or two with him. Witness had bets over the first day of the Thames meeting and won on Lady -Lois. On the second day of the races, Monday, Farrell collected his "diwy" : on Lady Lois ahd had three other bets, 5/- on Maud Wilson m the hurdles,: 5/- on Shebang "first start," and 5/- on Maud Wilson m the Thames Plate. Shebang did r not start m the first race' for which it was entered, but came first m the other. Witness went' to Butterworth's clerk for a settlement but was informed that he did not have a bet on the last race. Farrell then complained, to the police. Counsel for the accused here withdrew the plea of not guilty, entering that of guilty. Senior-Detective Hammond said that Butterworth was doing a 'large business and when arrested he had £76 m his pockets. He had not previously been before the Court. ORDINARY RECREATION DEBARRED. Mr. Leary said that the accused was a cripple, having only one hand, while the other was injured. Consequently ! he was not able to indulge m the re- I creations of other men. and therefore when ordered a rest from a nervous breakdown- he sought relaxation :in betting transactions. These, counsel pointed out, were' only small ones and few m number. The accused had a living of his own; being a successful and hard-working contractor m the tarring and asphalting line. Butterworth would give an undertaking that he would no longer continue making these bets. Butterworth ,then mounted into the box and swore on oath that he would refrain from betting. . Mr. Rosser said 1 that this was rather a curious 'case of a curious law and a curious people. The accused had promised to give up his betting practice as it was a side-line. The Bench thought they were treating the accused leniently by imposing a fine of £5 on each of the six offences, m default one month's imprisonment. It would ! act as an inducement to give up the betting.