CHARGES OF BOOKMAKING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3713, 12 May 1925, Page 54

CHARGES OF BOOKMAKING.

JURIES FAIL 10 AGREE. AUCKLAND, May 8. Th«r jury, after four hours’ retirement to-night, failed to agree in the Supreme Court trial of George Frank Shaw for alleged bookmaking at Wha.igarei. The Crown Prosecutor said the allegation against the accused was that while at Whangarei he was observed by police oMcers to be frequently hotels, frequently with grftups of men around him. He hud also been about the streets with other men, and on certain race days was observed to be particularly busy On February 7 the accused was approached by Constable Beasly, who said to him: “Are you doing anything on the Tc Kuiti races?” Accused answered: ‘Yes, and also on Gisborne." Those words, submitted counsel, were an indication that the accused was * bookmaker, and by volunteering “something on Gisborne," he was holding hlnieelf out as ready to make bets. The constable made one bet with accused, and gave a £"» note, tor which he received £4 change. Accused said: “There are no police about, are there?” Later a police constable obtained a warrant and arrested accused, finding in his possession £49 11s. The Judge, in summing up, said a case of tliis kind was one of some considerable importance. The law had recently been altered so that a man carrying on the business of a bookmaker might be brought before a court and punished. If the only evidence against him was that of an accomplice it was the duty of the Bench to warn the jury that it was unsafe to convict on such evidence, but the principal evidence in these cases was that of men who had made bets with the accused person. There were records of a number of bets, and finally there was that of a police o/lieer. That. was corroborative. The jury failed to agree in auother bookmaking charge against a Dalmatian, in connection with the Matakohe races.