STATE’S BIG WIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 547, 27 December 1928, Page 1

STATE’S BIG WIN

BOOKMAKERS pay out *, s•+*! £135 fgy - rom. BEFORE THE COURT Th« State benefited thns mornieg to the extent of £135 when four men engaged in bookmaking were called to account before Mr. c. Cutten, S.M., at the Police Court. Archibald Anderson, a contractor, flged 27, pleaded guilty to keeping the premises of 115 Hobson Street as a common gaming house, and William McMillan, a retired farmer, aged 51, admitted assisting him. Chief-Detective Hammond said the men operated in a tobacconist’s shop. They had a telephone on and did a fair amount of betting. Bookmaker’s material was found on the premises, jir. Hammond suggested that the magistrate should not increase the fine of £75 imposed on Anderson for j similar offence some months ago, as the men were not doing a very big business. For two years the shop had been used as a gaming house. Anderson was fined £75 and McMillan £25. May I have until the banks open (o And the money?” asked Anderson, when the penalty was imposed. His request was granted. Thomas James O’Hagan, who was found in Anderson's shop when Detective Nalder made the arrests, was charged with being found on the premises without reasonable excuse, pleading not guilty. Mr. Nalder said that the man was pot betting, but had refused to give any explanation of his presence. O’Hagan asked lor a remand, as he wished to find a solicitor to defend him, but the magistrate was unwilling to grant it. as the offence was more pr less trivial. Chief-Detective Hammond: We have no desire to press the charge. The case was dismissed, Mr. Cutten advising O’Hagan to answer questions put to him by a detective in future. DOING BIG BUSINESS Richard John Healy, who was said by Mr. Hammond to be doing considerable business, pleaded guilty to carrying on business as a bookmaker. According to the chief-detective, I Jiealv, whose age was given as 42, was a foreman ganger on the railways. He was doing big business, railing at suburban hotels every night. He had not previously been belt,3 the Court. Healy was fined '£2s. Kmest Hamley, a barman, who carried on a small business as a bookmaker in the hotel where he was employed. was fined £lO. Hamley, whose age was given as B*l, pleaded guilty through Mr. R. A. Singer to a charge of carrying on business as a bookmaker. According to Chief-Detective Hammond, Hamley supplemented his wages hy laying doubles at £2O to ss. He was in a small way only. Mr. Singer mentioned that Hamley was % married man and would lose his position. Counsel asked for hmiency.