ALLEGED BOOKMAKER

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1928, Page 14

ALLEGED BOOKMAKER

“THE BIGGEST IN AUCKLAND.” ACC USED BEFORE COURT. Auckland, Feb. 3. Alleged to be “the biggest bookmaker in Auckland,” Robert Francis Bennett, middle aged, oP Devonport, appeared in the Magistrate's Court charged with loitering in Devonport for purposes of betting on the first and second days of - the Takapuna Jockey Club's recent 1 meeting. i Chief-Detective Hammond said he had known Bennett for ten years. He was the biggest bookmaker in Auckland, and had no other occupation. In Swansen Street he had sen office in the Empire Buildings. . “What is on the door?” asked the Magistrate (Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.). The chief detective: Nothing, but there is a telephone there, the number of which is not listed in the telephone book. He lives at 55 Vauxhall Real, Devonport, and has the telephone on there, too. He has charts published w’th his sign, ‘The Bumble Bee,’ on the botrom.” Producing a book, the chief detective said: “In this book which I keen I have all the charts and symbols of all the bookmakers in Auckland. Each one is known by a symbol or a sign. Bennett’s was entered in her twelve months ago. I keep it to define betting charts which come into my hands. Or.e of Bennett's was picked up on the street in Devonport at the last meeting. He had a book of £l5OO, which is a pretty big book, on the first day of the Takapuna races.” Continuing, the chief detective said Bennett was seen at the gates 21 yards from the totalizator. He remained there until the eighth race. For the greater portion of the time he was leaning over the gate, and was visited by many men. “They were well known punters, and big punters at that,” Mr. Hammond said. “I can give their names, if necessary. Accused would invariably walk between two. cars with the men and there converse. He drives rather an elaborate motor-car, and he arrived on the second race day in that. He stayed in front of the gate in the same position until five minutes after the closing of the totalisator. Then he drove over to a different position, where he watched the race from his car. After it was over he returned to the gate with three ‘excluded’ men. Several went out of the course to speak to him. I saw a woman go out and speak to him, and the money was counted out and given to her. He stayed there and went away in the same way for the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh races.”

At 5 o’clock on Monday, witness stated, he approached Bennett, who was sitting alone in his car, and told him he had a warrant for his arrest. Bennett denied he had been betting, and said he had just come out to put £5 on a horse in the race that was being run. While Detective Moon and witness were there someone came up with five tickets for accused. They then drove in Bennett’s car to the Devonport police station. “The car has a left-hand drive,” proceeded Mr. Hammond. “While we were going along the road I noticed Bennett take his left hand out of his pocket and drop something on the road. I told him to stop, but then altered my mind, as I thought I had enough evidence on him, and told him to drive on. There was not a scrap of betting or racing material on him. There was not even a racebook. Mr. Finlay (for the accused): What did he drop! Witness': I do not know, but I think it was his racebook. Mr. Finlay: He is a very clever man, but he cannot throw dust in your eyes. Chief-Detective ? —“I do not know, but I do know he is the only excluded bookmaker who frequents that place. He h"« been there for years.”

What did he say when you mentioned you saw him give money to a woman! —“Oh, he had a wonderful explanation. He said, ‘You saw me change a £5 note for a woman.’ ” Submitting that there was no case to answer, Mr. Finlay contended the police would have to prove there was a systematic betting practice on accused’s part. As it was, he contended the police had only pointed to three or four instances in which alleged money changed hands, and alleged a lot of things about Bennett’s character. Evidence regarding character, however, did not affect the issue, and was not admissible. They had to prove he had loitered and systematically betted. The true facts were, counsel said, that Bennett and others who were not allowed on the course went to the gates and got others inside to put money on for them. There was surely no offence in that. The magistrate- I am asked to take an innocent interpretation of what I am told has happened? Counsel: Exactly. Decision reserved.