THE PUNTERS' CROSS-WORD PUZZLE

NZ Truth, Issue 1079, 29 July 1926, Page 1

THE PUNTERS' CROSS-WORD PUZZLE

Detectives Strike Big Double On Surprise Visit To Palatial Premises

BOOKIE WHO HANDLED £7000 IN TWO YEARS

(From "Truth's" Hastings Representative.) . WHEN Francis William Fitzpatrick opened his fine new premises m Russell Street, Hastings, about twelve months back, someone christened the building "The Punters' Cross-word Puzzle."

THIS, of course, was due' to th used to ornament the outskl reference to anything which wen THE 'Hastings guardians of the law,C * however, kept their eye on the building and its occupants; at least, so far as the billiard-room portion of the place was concerned, and one day — about a fortnight ago — when the Wellington gallops were m full swing, Detective Fitzgibbon and Sergeant Hogan paid a rather unexpected visit. iigagKS^-sR^H ' eel at the Hastings HggjlfL. -tJfll allowing his premTO^M^^pß= ises to be used as *jfiffiffffi§iaßfffffftir a common gaming - huuse, and one each Of publishing 1 a double chart arid making a bet, the payment of which depended an- the working of the totalisator. Contrary to expectations" Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty, and tliis fact perhaps left his bank-balance larger that it might otherwise have been. He was represented by Lawyer 13. J.- Rogers. Detective Fitzgibbon told the Bench that so an after the shops were erected and the billiard -room ; opened for business the suspicions, of the police were aroused, and under instructions from the inspector, a constable from Napier was sent; to see what was doing. He soon found out and succeeded m Imaking several bets with Fitzpatriek 'm the billiard-room. • ■BIG BUSINESS As a result, a search warrant was executed and a certain amount of paraphernalia common to bookmakers was found m Fitznatrick's office; his bank-book showed that during the last two years he had handled about £7000. The magistrate: Oh, he's m a big way, then? Detective Fitzgibbon: The figures seem to be faiiiy large, but I wish to be fair and state that portion of this money was received legitimately from rents, etc. It is hard to say how much was from gambling. . "In pleading guilty the accused has put the country to no trouble." The magistrate:; Has he been convicted before? Detective Fitzgibbon: He was a . licensed bookmaker some years ago and was then convicted for

Ie " cross-word" .design 'which wat ( le of the buildirig 1 , and had no Lt on inside. > making a bet with a youth under 21. That is his only offence. ■ r Lawyer Rogers: That conviction was 16 years ago and the youth was over six feet high. "The matter went to appeal and the late Chief Justice commented that he thought it was an iunocent affair, and said that if he had the power he would have reduced the fine." Lawyer Rogers then went ..on to sketch the bad luck which the accused had met with through a big fire and liis nbn -success as a farmer. He stated that the rent from 'the shops— which were such a credit to the town— ran to over £2000 per year. . , Some of this money was shown m the book referred to by the detective. , "The accused has been here for many years," said counsel, "and as this Js his first lapse I ask that it be treated as such." The magistrate: It is a pity that he did not set a better example..

"The old conviction should not be counted against you, but the fact remains that you are a man of position m the town and it is a great pity that you dp not set a better example. "If men m your position do these] things' we can't altogether quarrel with the younger ones for following suit "You have not sworn falsely, , like some men might do, and you have not caused any trouble. "I will take all that into consideration, and as you are liable to a fine of £100 or three months' imprisonment, I am treating you as leniently as possible m fining you £25 and 7/- costs." Only one charge was taken — that of. allowing the billiardroom to be used as a common gaming-house, the other three charges ' /&m§ heine- withdrawn, CHi^l

When they landed Percy Astr.idge, the police struck the double. Percy was charged with making' two bctp, the payment of which, depended on the working of the tote.. With Lawyer Hallett to plead. his cause, he also admitted his guilt. In this case SorgeaWt Hogan prosecuted and told the Court that he had seen Percy making certain, entries m a book. When questioned Percy admitted . that he had. been laying the odds. The book showed that he had handled £61,« lbs. m eight months; on the day he was questioned, he had. put through £60. LIVING BY HIS WITS When asked why he. did this, Percy said that he had been injured through a horse falling on him* and ,as he could not work he did this for a living. Lawyer Hallett held that the offence could not be compared with, the previous case.. v The whole posftion, he said, was wery unfortunate. , The accused was injured through an accident with, a horse m 1913 and had been practically a cripple ever since. He had been driven to a position where he had to live by his wits. He had been very frank about everything, and as' bookmaking- was carried on comparatively openly all over the" country, this may haye led the young man to act as he did. . The magistrate: I .cannot take that as an. excuse, : of course. You cannot resort to illegal acts to, make a living, and if other ; people do it, it is no reason why you should. PERCY'S PROMISE ■ "Will you promise trie you will keep off this betting business?— Yes. ■ The magistrates All .right;, on. the first charge you will be .fined £5 and costs 7/-, and on the second/you will be convicted and discharged. "That is the best I can do for you. . "I have let you off very leniently and I hope you will pull yourself together and keep your promise."