IS NOT ENTHUASIASTIC

NZ Truth, Issue 1228, 13 June 1929, Page 8

IS NOT ENTHUASIASTIC

Just A Silver Bettor, but Made Book On The Course Until Police Stepped In S.M. DOUBTFULJDF PROMISES ; ■: . (From "N.Z. Truths Hastings Representatiye). I If reports are correct, Douglas Gordon George Murray, of Hastings, has been carrying on the business of a bookmaker only I m a small way, but he has probably had a lesson which may \ v somewhat dim his enthusiasm.

IF he does "carry-on," next time he will not be so silly as to go on to \ the open racecourse and compete , with the. "tote" m the full view of the , watchers of the law. That is precisely. I what he did, and of course he was ca.ught. •" •'" •' " ' • I . : - : ■■■"' . At the .Magistrate's/Court, Hastings', he was charged with' carrying on the' bookmaking business and, represented by Mr. Le Helleur, he pleaded guilty. Detective Farquharson, who prosecuted, told the court that Murray went to the Tiawkes Ba.y trots and there he was kept under observation on the outside enclosure. , When he wMs seen taking money and (. paying out on bets, lie was naturallj r , arrested, \ . " • 5 The detective admitted that Murray !'•■ was just a silver bettor and not a man <; m a big way. He had £9/19/- on him when arrested, and he was a married >* :man with seven children.- the youngest ' of whom was 17 months old. • Apart : , from this charge there was nothing known against him. . ■•__'■- '■'„. 1 Mj\ Helleur, m making a plea for . .'; . leniency, said that his client , was 1 .working only m a. small way, and 3 was really not enthusiastic, for he i did not arrive at the racecourse until after the second race. He

had not made a fortune at the business. Mr. A. W. Mowlem, S.M.: Perhaps he hoped to. Mr. Helleur: Well, perhaps he did, but he has not been at the game before and he assures the court that, he will hot do it m the future. He is out of Work, and I would ask your Worship to treat the matter as leniently as possible. His Worship: Sometimes I wish 'I had some faith, and was able to accept the statements of counsel on behalf of prisoners that they will not offend again, but after ten years of experience, I find that it is a very' broken reed on which- to lean. . It is difficult for the court to depend on such statements. "These men say they will not do it again, but m spite of their assurances,' m spite of their promises, they come back and then they come back again and then again. It is not really a statement worth repetition. "I want to point out .to the accused that he is liable to a fine of £500 or two years' imprisonment. That is; the risk he is running. Accused, you will be fined £25 with 10/- costs."