BETTING IN HOTEL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23370, 9 December 1937, Page 7

BETTING IN HOTEL

LICENSEE HEAVILY FINED AGENT FOR A BOOKMAKER <Peb United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Dec. 8. Holding that Fred Murray, occupier of the Manukau Hotel, Onehunga, used the hotel for some of the purposes referred to in section 36 of the Gaming Act, and that there was evidence of general business of betting on the premises, Mr C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M., convicted him and imposed a fine of £25 for keeping the premises as a common gaming house. The magistrate said the evidence showed that more than an odd one or two bets had been taken by the licensee. A plain clothes constable got the defendant to accept money for bets on two horses without difficulty, and, seven days later, the same constable paid him money for three bets. The constable saw other men handing money .to the defendant, and the constable received his winnings from the defendant, who took the money from the bar till. The constable’s companion also paid the defendant money for a bet. The magistrate said the conclusion was that the defendant received bets as an agent for a bookmaker, and left the bar to communicate, personally or by telephone, with the bookmaker. Sufficient material was found to make, in conjunction with the evidence, a prima facie case against the defendant.