FINES IMPOSED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20926, 4 January 1938, Page 5

FINES IMPOSED

BOOKMAKERS OPERATE AT ELLERSLIE

By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, January 3.

Three bookmakers—a married woman and two men—who were operating on The Hill enclosure at Ellerslie on Saturday, appeared at the Police Court to-day before Mr F. K. Hunt. Joseph Coleman Hickey, for whom Mr F. W. Schramm appeared, pleaded guilty to a charge of bookmaking. The police said that Hickey was seen to take 34 bets. He was taking them as fast as he could go. Hickey should not have been on the racecourse because of his previous convictions. Such offenders were causing the racingauthorities a lot of trouble as they were in opposition to the totalisator. Mr Schramm said that Hickey was a silver bettor. This was his first time at Ellerslie and it would be his last. The Magistrate imposed a fine of £25. Hickey said he could not pay. The police said that Hickey had £2l when he was caught. Hickey: I can’t pay. By the time I pay everybody I will have nothing left. The Magistrate: Well, go and work in the quarry. It’s nice and warm up there. I give you 48 hours to pay. Selina Broadley, who was similarly charged, pleaded guilty, the police stating that she took 41 bets. A young girl was assisting her by soliciting bets.

She was fined £lO. John Alfred Gordon Bird, who pleaded not guilty to a similar charge, wus convicted and fined £l5.