CITY POLICE COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17871, 28 February 1920, Page 15

CITY POLICE COURT

Friday, Febbuaby 27. (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) Drunkenness.—A first offender was remanded for a week for medical treatment. A Defence Case.—James Christian South, for failing to attend parades under the Defence Act, was fined £3, with ooste (7s). By-law . Cases.—Alex. Nicolson, John Hedges, Andrew Scoallar, and Albert Wright were each fined 6s, with costs (7s), for permitting horses to wander in the city without proper guidance. Edward Waldren and Kenneth Ross were each convicted and discharged for driving their motor oars through the city after sunset without having them properly lighted. It was explained in eaoh instance that the globes in the reai lamp had burnt out, and as the oars were lighted by electricity, they did not know that the tail lights were out. Chanoe or Skill.—George Green was charged on two informations with having, on December 20 'last, played a game of "Pegs and Rings" in the Octagon, this being a pretended game of chance.—The facts, as related to the magistrate by Chiefdetective Bishop, were that -this game, which was alleged to be a game of skill, was in reality a game of chance. By means of the peg and some of the rings he endeavoured to demonstrate to the magistrate that the fact that some of the rings were not large enough to go on to the peg made the game a game of chanoe.—Mr Hanlon, for the defendant, admitted that this game was played, but argued the main point at issue, which was whether this was a game of chance or a game of skill. He argued that in a game of this description,' as, in fact, all other games, some men became more skilled than others. The point made about the rings was explained. He said it was the habit of people trying_ luok at these games sometimes to take a ring from one table to another if they thought it was bigger than any of those in use at such table, the idea being that they would have a better chance of winning the prize offered. Mr Hanlon also stressed the point that the defendant did not play in the game, but merely sold the rings to any one who wanted to play. This case was not similar to the "Hoop-la" case which had been decided by Mr Justioe Edwards. The Magistrate said he would take time to consddier his judgment.