CHARGE OF LOITERING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17009, 16 April 1926, Page 3

CHARGE OF LOITERING.

SEQUEL TO POLICE THAI’. SOME UNUSUAL EVIDENCE. In tlir Wailii .Magistrate's Court, on Tuesday William Heed, of Waibi. was dunged under Section 2 of Tho Gaming Ail, 1910. with loitering in Sediduti street for the purpose of betting. Seiiiui-seargeiit McLean prosecuted ,uid Mr Clemluti (Thames) appeared *Lr .mused, who pleaded' not guilty. The sergeant applied fur leave L amend the information to "during lliu last six months on divers dales. ’ ( oimsel opposed the amendment, and the sergeant agreed to state the dales as tin*. 15th and 2Cth of March. Senior-sergeant .McLean j-aiif accused had no legal occupation, but rented a. telephone and a postal box. Evidence was given by (.unstable Bunn, o|' Wellington, u lm came In Wailii for special duty, to flic elleel Unit betook a double with acruvd lor the, Pae rim races in a Wailii billiard saloon, selecting Barometer and King Lm Witness gave accused his correct name, and lie said lie was working for I lie Wail a u beta. Timber Co nnany. Accused hail a newspaper containing a double chart. Cios-examined, witness said that the bet was made in the billiard room. Wit ness did not see accused! make any bets in Ihe street.

Evidence was also given lay Constables Dalbeth and (Henson. Cross-examined, the latter said lie did not dispute the state lucid that Ihe accused' wan a big shareholder in the Wailii Company and in a dredging company, also a. property owner in Wailii. Counsel here, proilueedl documentary evidence in support of these claims, also a bank pass hook. Evidence was also given by the seuiorsergeanl as to lit? habits ot accused.

Counsel submitt,oil that there was no foundation for the prosecution, only suspicion. He said that evidence of a- convincing nature was necessary, but was not forthcoming. There was no evidence that accused was loitering in the street for the purpose, of betting. The magistrate reserved his decision.