WOMAN BOOKMAKER

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1931, Page 4

WOMAN BOOKMAKER

BETS AT AVONDALE MEETING. FAMILY BREADWINNER. A woman who was stated to have taken bets in the outside enclosure on the first and second days of the Avondale Jockey Club’s race meeting, Florence Adelaide Blanche Dick, a widow, was charged in the Auckland Police .Court on Friday with carrying on the 'business of a bookmaker. Mr. McLivcr entered a plea of guilty. Detective-Sergeant Kelly stated that on the day of the meeting Detective Packman and Raceeourse-lnspeetor Cullen had seen the woman taking a number of bets in the outside enclosure. She admitted she had been laying totalisator odds on both days and the police had found evidence that she lied taken 56 bets of various sums up to £1 on the day she was accosted. She had £l9 in her possession. “Defendant has a telephone at her private residence, and it is suggested that sh© takes bets both, on and of! the course,” said Mr. Kelly. “She is a widow and has not been before the Court previously.” “This woman is a breadwinner for her family,” said Mr. McLiver. “Her husband died a month ago and she has been struggling to meet hospital fees and her husband’s burial expenses. She denies that she has been carrying on bookmaking at her home.” The magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt, imuosed a fine of £7 10s, allowing defendant a week in which to make payment. A charge of laying totalisator odds at the Avondale meeting was also preferred against Arthur Bolton, who admitted the offence.

According to Detective-Sergeant Kelly, defendant had been kept under observation by Detective Packman. When questioned, defendant admitted the offence. He was at present wtihout employment, and stated that none of his transactions were in sums larger than ss. “Have you seen him here before?” asked Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.

“No, he has not been before the Court previously,” replied the detective-ser-geant. Defendant was fined £5, in default 14 days’ imprisonment, and was allowed a .week in which to pay the fine.