BOOKMAKER CAUGHT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17382, 10 November 1924, Page 8

BOOKMAKER CAUGHT.

A TE AWAMUTU CASE. DEFENDANT FINED £IOO. (Special to the “ Star.”) TE AW AMUTU. November 10. A special sitting of the Magistrate’s Court was held, before Mr F. AY. Platts, S.M., when Herbert Albert Reid, hairdresser and tobacconist, Te Awamutu, appeared on remand, and was charged that on November 1. being the occupier of a shop, he conducted the premises as a common gaming house; also on the same date, using the said premises a» a common gaming house. •Mr Collins appeared for the defendant, and entered a plea of guilty. t unstable Doyle said that during the past six weeks defendant had been laying tote odds. This was known to the police, and sufficient evidence was gained to warrant a raid being made. On November 1. in company with Constables Hooker and Mahonv, lie visited accused’s premises, and found two double charts, one on the* New Zealand Cup and Stewards’ Handicap, and the other on the Mitchelson Cup and Shorts Handicap. In all sixty-five doubles had been laid. The sum of £3l fis was found on accused, also a small notebook containing entries of bets made on the doubles. A number of slips were also found relating to bets made on the Auckland meeting that day. Iho charges were laid under Section 4 of the Gaming Act, 15)08. There was no doubt in the minds of the police* that the premises had been conducted as a common gaming house for at least six months, and considerable betting had taken place. It must be said m accused’s favour that lie admitted he had been laying tote odds, and gave an undertaking to desist in future. Defendant had also stated that he was not carrying on the business on his own account, but was acting as an agent for a firm in Auckland. He bore a good character, was a good citizen, and had never previously been before the coiu*t. Regarding the charges against the other tour persons arrested. Constable Doyle said he liad no hesitation in saying they were on the premises for a legitimate purpose, and lie. did not intend to call anv evidence. Counsel for defendant said he realised it was useless trying to defend a ease of this nature, in view of tic* evidence obtained. ami he complimented Constable Doyle for the manner in which lie had presented the case for the prosecution. His Worship said it was unfortunate tor a young man of good character to come before the court on a charge of this nature, but be had chosen to defy tlie law. The Act provided for a tine of £IOO or three months’ imprisonment. On the first charge defendant would be lined £LCO. and on the second would he convicted and discharged. The charges against the other four persons would be dismissed. Defendant was allowed one week in which to find the money.