GAMING CHARGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23882, 9 August 1939, Page 15

GAMING CHARGES

RAIDS BY DETECTIVES TWELVE DEFENDANTS PENALTIES TOTAL £174 (Per United Press Associations AUCKLAND, Aug. 8. Coinciding with the Grand National race meeting at Christchurch this afternoon, raids were conducted by detectives simultaneously in various parts of the city, and as a result 12 men appeared ,in the Police Court before Mr W. R. McKean, S.M., shortly after 4 o'clock to face charges under the Gaming Act. Detective Sergeant Nalder prosecuted. Fines totalling £174 were imposed. "This man is employed at his occupation, but he has been betting at work and in hotels," said Detective Sergeant Nalder, when Harry Williams, a canvas worker, aged 27, admitted a charge of carrying on business as a bookmaker. A fine of £ls, with 10s costs, was imposed. "This man was betting in the public bar of a city hotel when arrested,' said Detective Sergeant Nalder. when James Donnelley, a labourer, aged 70, admitted a charge of bookmaking. He had no previous convictions, and a fine of £ls, with 10s costs, was imposed. As a result of a raid on his premises, John Joseph Spring, a dealer, aged 52, pleaded guilty to a charge of bookmaking. The defendant was fined £ls. with 10s costs. Betting in Hotel "He is cleaning up all the time," said Detective Sergeant Nalder, when Alexander Harris, a cleaner, aged 50, admitted a charge of bookmaking. The defendant had been betting in an hotel, Detective Sergeant Nalder added. A fine of £2O, with 10s costs, was imposed. " I think that this defendant has the age record to-day," said Mr Terry, who appeared for Alfred Niccolls, aged 76, who admitted a charge of bookmaking. Detective Sergeant Nalder said that the defendant had been operating at hotels for some time, and there had been a number of complaints about him. The defendant was fined £lO, with 10s costs. "He bets in a city hotel, and is there every day," said Detective Sergeant Nalder when Charles Lillewell, aged 54, admitted a charge of bookmaking. He was fined £ls, with 10s costs. A charge of being found without lawful excuse in a common gaming house was admitted by Raymond Victor Wilton, who also pleaded guilty to a bookmaking charge. "It looks as if you are the biggest so far to-day," said the magistrate, who fined the defendant £25 for bookmaking and £2 for being found on premises. A plea of guilty to a charge of being found on the same premises was entered by David Egmont Brane, who admitted that he had had a bet. He was fined £2, with 10s costs. "This man conducts a book shop," said Detective Sergeant Nalder when Alex Martin Diamond Scott, aged 30, admitted using premises as a common gaming house. A fine of £2O, with 10s costs, was imposed. Gordon James Stitt, an agent, aged 25, was charged with using premises as a common gaming house. He pleaded guilty. Just Back ijcom Honeymoon .. "I was not taking any bets to-day, as I have just returned from my honeymoon," the defendant said. " Well. I will take that into consideration," said the magistrate, with a smile, and fined the defendant £ls, with 10s costs.

A charge of bookmaking was admitted by James Emery, a cleaner, aged 34. Detective Sergeant Nalder said that the defendant was not betting on a large scale, but he did nothing else but betting. The defendant was fined £2O, with 10s costs. Several of the defendants asked for time to pay, and the magistrate told them to make arrangements with the clerk of the court.