LADY BOOKMAKER FINED

NZ Truth, Issue 1274, 1 May 1930, Page 3

LADY BOOKMAKER FINED

Constables Accused of Using Illegal Methods

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Whangarei Rep.) ALLEGATIONS of high-handed and , illegal methods of procuring evidence on which to prosecute Dorothy Devonport White on the charge of bookmaking were made against Constables Brown and McKay by Mr. Trimmer, counsel for the defence, at Whangarei before Mr. G. N. Morris, S.M. The case had been adjourned from Aprii 14. Without a warrant and m the absence of Miss White the constables m the dead of night searched her office, examined her papers, letters and books, and then took them away to a police station. Miss White when later questioned by 'the police, admitted m a signed statement the papers were her property. In fining Miss White £10 the magistrate said: "I am not going to comment on the methods of the police. My conviction is based upon her confession." This is "Dot's" second appearance m .court m connection with a betting charge, her debut having been made m September, 1927, m company with Ernest Alfred Lacy, her employer. At that time she was charged with assisting m the management of a common gaming-house and convicted and discharged. Employed as a stenographer by Lacy her counsel told the court that his client had a very fine war record as a nurse, and had never previously been m any sort of trouble. Lacy, who carried on business m Whangarei as the Whangarei Loan and Finance Company, was charyod with using his premises as a gaming-house and with carrying on the business as a bookmaker. He was fined £20 on the bookmaking charge and convicted and discharged on the other charge. The police allegation at the time was that "Dot" White acted as a bookmaker's clerk recording bets for her employer. Well-known m the Whangarei district she is a popular figure and her appearance m court excited considerable interest. A full report of these proceedings will appear m our next issue.