CITY POLICE COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21362, 16 June 1931, Page 13

CITY POLICE COURT

Monday, June 15. (Before, Mr H, W. Bundle, S.M.) BOOKMAKER PINED. I Alexander Leonard Williams, for whom Mr C. J. L. White appeared, pleaded guilty to a charge of carrying on the business of a bookmaker. Chief Detective Quartermain stated that the defendant was a tobacconist carrying on. business next to the Crown Hotel 'in Rattray street. His place had been used as a common betting house for sonic time. Though he was not in a big way his business was fairly extensive. An employee commonly frequented the hotel next door in search of bets. On Saturday Williams had made a bet with a police agent, and while he had been there a woman had come in and made a bet. The sum of £l6 had been found in the shop.—Mr White said that Williams was well known as a footballer. He had been injured in a match, and had been lame ever since. He was a married man, 33 years of age. Owing to the depression and the fall in tobacco prices he had! taken bets. He was in a small way, doing only straight-out betting. He had been quite honest, and bad produced records of bets amounting to £7 or £B. In view, of the fact that the accused was a cripple counsel asked for as small a penalty as possible.—The magistrate asked whether Williams carried on any betting on football as well as racing.—Mr White• I don’t think that there is any betting on football by bookmakers. —The Magistrate: You may be out of touch witn things, Mr White, but from, conversations one gathers that something of the sort may bo carried on.—Mr White: There are a lot of wagers, but not bets by bookmakers. —Tho accused was fined £2O. and costs (10s). DRUNKENNESS, David Charles Smith, a statutory first offender, pleaded guilty to charges of drunkenness and procuring liquor while prohibited.'—Senior Sergeant Cameron stated that relatives of the defendant had stated that if his conduct did not improve thev would apply to have him scut to Roto Roa.—On the first charge the defendant was convicted and discharged, and on the second he was fined 20e, in default 24 hours’ iinprisonment._ A first offener was fined 10s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. ADMITTED TO PROBATION. Maurice Albert Kilpatrick appeared for sentence on a charge of receiving goods at Milton knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained. —The accused was represented by Mr A. G. Neill, who stated that Kilpatrick supported his mother, who had purchased a van to enable him to carry on business as a hawker. Counsel referred to the effect which the loss of hie license would have. His mother would lose £lOl. Counsel suggested that the license should bo transfen - ed to her, the accused working as her employee.—The accused was admitted to probation for 12 months, the probation officer to place the position with respect to tho license before tho local authorities. MAINTENANCE. Claude Cecil Thompson was charged with default of a maintenance order. — The magistrate said that if Thompson had been in good health he would have been sentenced to’ a term of imprisonment. The case would be adjourned and the defendant would be ordered to report weekly to the maintenance officer. Alexander Anderson, who did not appear to answer a charge of failing to keep up the payments on a maintenance order, was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, to- be released on payment of £ll 5s James M'Kcrrow applied for the remission of arrears on a maintenance order and the reduction of the order, Mr White appearing for the applicant’s wife.—After evidence had been heard Mr White objected to a reduction being made until a longer period had elapsed.—His Worship remitted the arrears and adjourned the question, of the reduction sine die. He said that it was obvious that the order could not be kept up, and he intended to make a reduction. The extent of the reduction would depend on the applicant’s circumstances in the future. In the meantime he must pay as much as he could. William Cyril Arthur was charged with being in arrears of a maintenance order to the extent ot £202 4s up to May 18. The accused pleaded not guilty.—lt was stated that the accused had paid practically nothing under the order, and his wife and family were largely dependent for support upon the Charitable Aid Board. —In answer to a question, the ac; cused stated that he was engaged on relief work as a married man.—The magistrate said it would be quite impossible to remit all the arrears. The arrears over £2O would be remitted and the amount pf the order reduced to £1 12s per week in tho meantime. The accused would be sentenced to six months’ imprisenment, the warrant to be suspended provided that lie paid £1 12s each week he was working under the relief scheme. REMANDED FOR EXAMINATION.

Pedro Peters, who was charged with being idle and disorderly, was remanded for a week for medical examination.