CHARGES OF BOOKMAKING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25239, 31 May 1943, Page 4

CHARGES OF BOOKMAKING

THREE BARMEN FINED

Three barmen, who appeared before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., in the City Police Court on Saturday, pleaded guilty to charges of carrying on the business of bookmakers. They were Robert Greig Reilly, aged 50 years, Charles Moses Hewitt, aged 30, and John Walsh, aged 46. Chief Detective Holmes said that Reilly had been seen taking bets by a constable in plain clothes, who subsequently made a bet with the accused for which he received a dividend. The accused, who had not previouslv been before the court, admitted that he had been betting in a small way. The chief detective added that the accused had* been acting on behajf of some other bookmaker.—The accused said the transactions had been carried out for the convenience of the customers.— The magistrate said the taking of bets in an hotel to oblige customers was a practice that had to be suppressed. A fine of £2O and costs (10s) would be Imposed. Outlining the charge against Hewitt, the chief detective said that a constable had placed two bets with him.—Mr L. R. Simpson, who appeared for the accused, said that after being boarded out of the army, he came to Dunedin and secured a position as a barman. In spite of strict instructions from his employer, he had taken a few isolated bets. The indications were that he was in a very small way indeed.— In view of the circumstances, the magistrate said he thought he could look upon the accused as being “an innocent abroad,” and could treat him with leniency. He would be fined £lO and costs (10s). Walsh, the chief detective said, had the reputation of having taken bets over a considerable period. A constable had made a bet with him aqd was paid out a dividend. —For the accused, Mr J. P. Ward said it was denied that bets had been taken for a considerable time. The pressure put on my customers had been very great.—The magistrate: That will have to be met by a greater pressure applied by tlte court.—” It is a pity the pressure could not be put on the customers who pester these men to carry out these transactions," said Mr Ward. It was the accused’s first appearance in court.—Walsh was fined £2O and costs (10s).‘