CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19250, 14 August 1924, Page 13

CITY POLICE COURT.

Wednesday, August 13. (Before Mr ,7. R. Bartholomew, S.M-) Charge of Speeding.—John M’Cormack, who failed to put in an appearance, ms charged with on July 18, at Dunedin, driving a motor car at a speed greater than six miles an hour when crossing the intersection of George and St. David streets. Constable M'Lean stated that he was standing on the corner of St. David street atid saw defendant turn from George street into St. David strec't. He was travelling at between 20 to 25 miles an hour. —Constable M‘Rae corroborated the evidence of the previous witness. —Senior-sergeant Mathieson said defendant had been interviewed, but he had denied that ho vvae in the vicinity mentioned in the information, as his car was in the shod at the time. —The Magistrate; Have you any witnesses to prove that this was defendant’s car? —The Senior-sergeant said the sergeant who had charge of the case was ill, but he could recall Constable M'Lean.—The Magistrate; You will have to brine positive evidence that this was defendant’s car. —An adjournment for one week was granted. Breaches of By-Laws.—For riding bicycles on a footpath, George M'Donaid was fined 2s 6d without costs, John Groves 5s (costs 7s), Stanley Harbrow os, without costs, and John Peterson 5 (costs 7s).

Charge of Bookmaking.—John William Logan was charged with on August 12 carrying on the business or occupation of a bookmaker.—Defendant, who was represented by Mr W. G. Bay, pleaded guilty.—Chief-de-tective Lewis said the defendant was a casual labourer employed by the Railway Department. Owing to a suspicion that bookmaking was going on Detectives Roycroft and Hart visited the place where defendant was at work and discovered the accused laying doubles. Defendant admitted that he had laid shilling doubles, the winner to receive £5. His book, which was produced, showed that there were 160 entries, and defendant said each represented Is. Defendant had collected £S in shilling bets. The bets were all made wrtn his own work mates or friends, and were on the races which were at present being held at Riccarton. It was to defendant’s credit that he did not go outside looking for business. He was a married man with two children.—Mr Hay eaid the statement by the chief detective was substantially correct. Although defendant had pleaded guilty to being a bookmaker, that was because the definition of a bookmaker was a wide one. What business he transacted was limited to his immediate friends. It was not as if defendant were earning his living by bookmaking. There was very little in it for defendant. If anyon© struck the double ho would get £5, which meant that defendant would have £3 for himself. He had two children, one aged 11 and the other 13. He earned £3 Its a week. He had every reason to believe that deiendant would not again indulge in bookmaking. He (counsel) had warned him of the serious consequences of a repetition of the offence, and had told him that a second offence might result in his having to go to goal.—• The Chief Detective said that the offence had been carried on by defendant for some time. —Mr Hay said that nothing beyond the book mentioned had been found in defendant’s possession. He did not even possess a double chart. As far as defendant was concerned the game had not been a very profitable one. Defendant had not previously been before the court and nothing was known against him. —The Magistrate said that the offence with which defendant was charged was carried out in a very humble way, but in time he would doubtless have graduated higher. He would bs fined £lO, with court costs (7s /. Two weeks would be allowed in which to pay the fine