A “NOTORIOUS” PLACE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3803, 1 February 1927, Page 54

A “NOTORIOUS” PLACE.

COMMON GAMING HOUSE. CHRISTCHURCH, January 28. “This building is notorious in Christchurch, and it was only in June last that the premises were raided and the maximum penalty was imposed upon the bookmaker in charge. These people are parasites, and nearly all the frequenters of the building are working men who can ill afford the money.” This statement was made, by Detectivesergeant Young in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, when Alexander Duncan, aged 2L years, pleaded guilty to a charge of keeping the premises at 171 Madras street as a common gaming-house on January 22. When inflicting a fine of £75, the Magistrate (Mr E.'D. Mosley) said that had Duncan been an older man he would have been sent to gaol without the option of a fine. Five men found on the premises were each fined £3, a sixth was fined £5, and the charge against a seventh was dismissed. Detective-sergeant Young said that when the police raided the premises they found Duncan in a room at the back sitting at a table on which were cards for the Wellington and Foxton races. There were also some double charts for Wellington, and Duncan was taking bets over the telephone. He admitted being in charge of the place, but said he was acting for others. The police took bets over the telephone, and Duncan objected to this procedure. A considerable quantity of betting material was taken charge of. “I think this is a very grave menace to the community,” said the Magistrate. “In my callow days I had a few bets which might have transgressed the law, but as one grows older one learns to have more sense.”