ALLEGED BOOKMAKING

Southland Times, Issue 20172, 7 May 1927, Page 7

ALLEGED BOOKMAKING

CHARGE AGAINST ELDERLY MAN. VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, May 6. The trial of Thomas Jackson, an elderly man, on a charge of bookmaking at the Waikato Trotting Club’s meeting, Epsom, in March, took place in the Supreme Court to-day. The police evidence was to the effect that accused was approached by several men who gave him money whereupon accused made entries on the inside of a cigarette packet. One constable gave him five shillings for a horse which lost and later made a bet with marked coins which were found in the sum of £34 10/- which accused had in his possession when arrested. Mr McLiver, for accused, contended that the evidence was flimsy and insufficient to justify conviction. Summing up, Justice Stringer said the Legislature in its wisdom had legalised the totalisator and derived therefrom very considerable revenue. In order to protect it they had gone further and made it an offence against the law for any person to carry on the business of a bookmaker. However as the law stood it must be obeyed. It was for the Jury to decide on a verdict of “guilty” or “not guilty,” and they alone must adjudicate. The Jury retired to consider the verdict. Accused was about to be ushered below to conie up again when called on, but his Honour pointing out that the steps were difficult directed that Jackson should be allowed to wait and to have a chair whilst doing so. “Tell him he can go out and have his lunch if he wants to,” added his Honour, “Court will resume at quarter past two.”

The Jury subsequently returned a verdict of “not guilty.”