FINE OF £100

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26543, 19 August 1947, Page 8

FINE OF £IOO

BOOKMAKER IN COURT THREE PREVIOUS OFFENCES Alexander Malcolm Barron, a married man, aged 40, was fined £IOO and costs by Mr J. D. Willis, S.M., in the City Police Court yesterday for carrying on the business of a bookmaker. He was represented by Mr F. W. McElrea, and pleaded guilty. Chief Detective Hall said that on August 9, about 11.30 a.m., two detectives went to the accused’s home at 24 Calder street, St. Hilda, where they informed Turn that he was suspected of bookmaking. At the time the accused had taken bets amounting to £75 10s. “ Between 11.30 a.m. and noon the detectives took £l9 10s worth of betting over the telephone,” stated Mr Hall. "Heis in a substantial way of business, artd has admitted that he is a bookmaker’s agent." The chief detective added that Barron had been previously convicted three times for betting offences He had had the telephone for a little over a month. Counsel said that accused had been in poor health, and for four months he had been confined to his bed. On his discharge from the hospital he was fit to do only light work. He was not trained for any type of light occupation, and had been engaged in bookmaking activities for a short period before the present offence. Seven years had elapsed since the last offence. Mr McElrea submitted that on the day the accused was caught an important football match was to be played, and bettors who would be attending the match had* probably placed their bets before going Counsel considered, therefore, that the turnover of £75 10s nn that day was hardly a fair indication of the amount of business usually done by the accused. The magistrate imposed a fine of £IOO and costs (10s).