£324 for State

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 642, 19 April 1929, Page 1

£324 for State

SEVEN BOOKMAKING FINES

Three Men Pay £IOO Each SEVEN men guilty of offences against the Gaming Laws were fined £1324 within ten minutes in the Police Court this morning. Raiding detectives caught the men in three premises in tlie city yesterday. Three of the men were described by Detective-Sergeant lvellv as “among the biggest bookmakers in Auckland” and were fined £IOO each. One earned the name of the Bu>y Bee,” so large was his business.

DAYMOND LEWIS, aged 10, a clerk, of Remuera, Francis Brewer, 11, a clerk, o£ Epsom, and Robert Francis Bennett, -15, a clerk, of Devouport. were the men fined £IOO each for using premises as common gaming houses. Lewis pleaded guilty to using premises in His Majesty’s Arcade for bookmaking. Brewer used premises in 10 Vulcan Lane, while Bennett carried on his business at 25 Swanson Chambers, Swanson Street. Louis Atger, aged 22, a labourer, appeared with Lewis first on a charge of being found on gaming premises without lawful excuse. Alfred Nicolls. aged 66, a storeman, who was charged similarly, did not appear. “Lewis has been in the employ of a man named Clarrie Russell, who is one of the leading bookmakers in Auckland,” Mr. Kelly said. “Russell is away at the present time. At Lewis’s premises extensive bookmaking equipment —race cards and books, double charts and two telephones —were found. "Lewis had over £55 in his possession and there was proof of bets being taken as recently as yesterday. It was a big bpsiness.” Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.: What about this young man, Atger? “ONE OF THE ‘MUGS”' Mr. Kelly: Oh, Atger is merely one of the "mugs” who call at these places. Detective J. Nalder said he found Nicolls on the premises and obtained an admission from the man that he was there without lawful excuse. Mr. Kelly said that Lewis had been fined £ 10 in November, 1925, on a similar charge. Mr. Hunt: Well, it’s £IOO this time

and the other two men are fined £2 each. Brewer, and Austin McCormick, aged 33. a clerk, who pleaded guilty to assisting Brewer in the management of his business, were next to appear. Brewer's premises were completely fitted with bookmaking materials. Mr. Kelly said. The raid was made under search warrant and Brewer had £l3 10s in bis possession. FINED £IOO BEFORE “On November 5, 1927. Brewer was fined £IOO. Mr. Kelly said. “McCormick has not been before the court before. I suppose it is a question of repeating Brewer's fine. Mr. Hunt agreed, and-the .penalty he imposed on McCormick was £lO. Mr. Kelly remarked that Brewer was one of tlie biggest bookmakers in the city. Bennett and his assisting clerk. Frederick James Dryland, aged 27, a labourer, were the last men to appear. “There was the usual equipment in Bennett’s place,” Mr. Kelly said. “The clerk was caught at a telephone when the place was raided, in the act of taking bets. “Bennett said ho would plead guilty, but he said to the officers: •Don't take too much of my material.’ ” Mr. Kelly went on to say that Bennett, who had over £4O on him, had earned the Home of “Busy Bee.” He was recognised as one of Auckland's largest bookmakers. Bennett liad been fined £25 last year, the police evidence said, but nothing was known against the Cierk. While Bennett was lined £IOO. lrr-j----land was ordered to pay £lO ljr assisting the big bookmaker. The arrests formed one of the biggest bookmaking raids in Auckland for some time past.