BOOKMAKERS IN TROUBLE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9417, 13 April 1909, Page 8

BOOKMAKERS IN TROUBLE.

*'T* :-y J' I'' ' i'J-'LIVSLY TIMES AT AUCKLAND. Press Association. ,;; r w. - ■-■ Auckland, April 11. (*'■ A disgraceful scene occurred as the end of the last race of the Auckland ' Racing Club’s Easter Meeting on Saturday. A young man named -Victor Wood had laid a "double of ’ 60 to 1 with a bookmaker styling himself "Jim Mason.” When Dogger Back won the last race Wood’s hopes had been realised, and be went along to Mason to claim his winnings, £35 10s. It is alleged that - Mason passed a wad of notes to a confederate and turned round to Wood and other successful backers with a story that " cash had run out,” but that money would be obit ’ tained from the bank,, and all made right next day. A fury seized the crowd andjthings would have gone badly with Mason, his clerk, and the alleged confederate if the police had not stepped in and taken a hand. The men were taken to the stewards stand, but as most of the stewards had departed an inquiry was postponed till Monday. The crowd then took a band again and things looked • very bad for the two. With many a ■ imprecations Mason and Walsh were seized by the throats, by the hair, ; by the oollar~in fact any place that 4 could be gripped. For the time all was riot, and pandemonium reigned supreme. Eventually the man paid straight out odds and the police got ~ him away. Another bookmaker (Robt. Hunter), who earlier in the day failed to make good his wagers, was with his clerk brought beforethe ' stewards, who after hearing the evidence of the police, of Hunter, and of Robinson, ordered Hunter's immediate : removal from the course, and recommended that no license be issued to him in future, and that he be warned off all racecourses in New Zealand. _____