CHARGES DISMISSED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19336, 28 May 1937, Page 9

CHARGES DISMISSED

BOOKMAKING ALLEGATION i • ~ ONLY ISOLATED BETS COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE (For Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. “A man who makes isolated bets is not carrying on the business of a bookmaker and no evidence has been given of nriv business at all,” Raid Mr. Wyvern AVilson, S.M., in the Police Court, in dismissing a charge against Harry Syrod, insurance agent, aged (50. ' Sy’red pleaded not guilty to a charge of carrying on the business of a bookmaker.'

Constable Urquharl, of Wellington, said he was detailed for duty in Auckland in April to detect breaches of tho Gaming Act. Between April 27 and May In, he paid numerous visits to the private bar of an hotel to keep the accused under observation and to make a few hots with him. Many men were seen to approach the'accused, who refused to accept witness’ first bet- of ns. On another day, the accused accepted a 10s bet from witness, who also took a f>s double on a chart produced by the accused. On May 15, witness wanted to lay a 5s bet with the accused, who refused to take it. Detective Brady gave evidence of a visit paid bv hint to an hotel on May In with a warrant to arrest the accused on a charge of bookmaking. The accused denied that, he had been bookmaking, and when introduced to Constable TJrquliart said he had not previously seen him. On searching the accused, witness found a book “Best Bets,” the results and the dividends of four races, a wallet, a quantity of small notepaper and a note with a number of telephone numbers. Some of the telephone numbers witness identified as those of certain bookmakers. A search of the accused’s flat revealed a double chart in a suit of clothing. The accused denied that the chart Avas his. Bookmaker’s Code Sign

Questioned by Mr. AVilson concerning the significance of an insect printed on the double chart, the witness stated that the insect was tho code sign of a certain bookmaker, and not of the accused.

In reply to Mr. Noble, the witness said that similar charts were circulated prior lo race meetings. The evidence of the police staled that Ryred had been found in an hotel, commented the magistrate, who pointed out that this was not significant. It was stated that he frequented one end of the room by the fire, which was understandable for a man in weak health, as he was an habitue of the hotel.

Mr. AVilson said he did not consider it significant that Syred should be approached by people going to the hotel, and there was nothing sinister in their speaking to him in a place other than the bar, although it was suggested that the men came to him to make bets, and that he took them aside to record the bets. There was, nevertheless, no evidence of anyone, either overhearing him making bets or having found him recording them. “Evidence Falls Short”, “After several vain endeavours,” continued Mr. Wilson, “the constable made three bets with Syred, who noted them on a piece of paper. Again the evidence falls short of what one might expect of a man who was conducting the business of a bookmaker to do, because it is likely that ho would have other bets recorded which could be scffii by the constable.” At the eleventh hour, when the case was stood down for hearing, an interview took place between Syred and two detectives, in which he said lie was going to plead guilty. He was told that the charge against him was bookmaking. The charge, however, was more than bookmaking; it was a charge of carrying on the business of n bookmaker.

“In the notebook found on Sy red there is no evidence of betting,” added the magistrate. “His possession of the book ‘Best. Bets’ shows that he is interested in horse-racing and nothing else. Every man who comes back from a race meeting who lias a race book has, on the police evidence, indications that lie is interested in bookmaking. There is no evidence to support the charge and the information is dismissed.”