BOOKMAKING CHARGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23203, 29 May 1937, Page 23

BOOKMAKING CHARGE

"BUSINESS IN SMALL WAY" FINE OF £5 IMPOSED " From inquiries made and from the materials found the police are satisfied the defendant was in business only in a very small way," said Chief Detective Young in the City Police Court yesterday, before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., when George Richard Legge, a hairdresser, was charged with carrying on the business of a bookmaker. The defendant, who was represented by Mr G. M. Lloyd, pleaded guilty and was fined £5, with costs (10s). Chief Detective Young said the defendant was a hairdresser in Kaikorai Valley road. The police received information that he was carrying on the business of a bookmaker, and last Saturday morning Detective Sergeant Hall and Detective Taylor went to his place where they found betting paraphernalia as used by a small bookmaker. There were several day cards, double charts and information regarding times and results of races. In a notebook the police found 71 doubles on recent meetings this year and a home-made doubles chart on the meeting at Forbury Park. There was evidence to show that 29 doubles at Is each had been taken on this meeting, but there was nothing to show that any straightout betting had taken place. The defendant had stated that he had run a few doubles admitting that he had taken 29 on the Forburv Park meeting. He alsr stated that he had been a book maker's agent 18 months ago but had given it up, as there was nothing in it From inquiries made and thf material found the police were satisfied that the defendant was only in business in a very small way. He was a married man and bore a character. Mr Lloyd said that he had been asked to appear for the defendant only that morning. Although he had |

run doubles on the Forbury Park meeting counsel submitted that the defendant was hardly a bookmaker at all. He had been perfectly frank and had stated it was the third small double he had run in four years, his net profit for that time being only £1 10s. He was a struggling hairdresser who was just able to pay his way. "The only evidence is that the defendant took various small doubles, 71 in all, at Is each," said the magistrate, " and there is no suggestion" of straightout betting. It was the act of a stupid man." The defendant was fined £5, with costs (10s), time being allowed for payment to be made.