“BOOKIES” IN DOCK.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20359, 17 July 1934, Page 7

“BOOKIES” IN DOCK.

Well-Known Auckland Men Sent to Prison.

S.M.’S STRONG COMMENT. (Special to the " Star.") AUCKLAND, July 17. Two well-known bookmakers, Francis Brewer, forty-seven years of age, and Thomas Curran were sentenced to-dav by Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., to one month’s imprisonment each for occupying premises vised as a common gaming house. The police prosecutor said that Brewer's books showed that he took 5G6 " doubles ” for the first day of the Wellington races. Mr R. A. Singer, for Brewer, said that his client did not bet with relief workers or anyone who could not afford to bet. The Magistrate (Mr Wyvern Wilson) : A fool and his money are soon parted. If this man does not get it, I suppose someone else will. Mr Singer: I am afraid that all persons who bet with bookmakers will regret to hear that they may, perhaps, be fools. It is well known about my client that he refuses to take the money of those in necessitous circumstances. He is honest, generous and has consideration for those who cannot afford to bet. That is a well-known characteristic of the man. I hope your Worship will not regard him as a man who is preying on the community. I think it is a common feeling that the legislation on the Statute Book should be removed. The State does not hesitate to look at this man’s books. It takes advantage of them and takes gladly the money assessed in income tax.

The Mgistrate: Can the State ever be glad, Mr Singer? There are other professions you know that are notoriously hard to get money out of. Mr Singer then said that any other penalty than the maximum fine of £IOO would shock the public. The Magistrate asked the police to show him the books found in Brewer’s office.

Mr Singer: I hope your Worship is not looking for any particular names. (Laughter). Mr Wilson: No, I am looking to see if the operations continued after he was fined £IOO in 1932. They appear to be heavy since then. Mr Mahoney, for Curran, associated himself with Mr Singer’s remarks, and spoke of Curran’s high character. The Magistrate said that Brewer had been fined £IOO in 1927, 1929 and 1930. and £75 in 1932. His books showed that he continued business just the same immediately after the last fine. "Is Law To Be Enforced? ” "Now what is the position? Is the law to be enforced? Does a man have to pay £IOO every year or so and keep on keeping gaming houses? ” asked Mr Wilson. “ That is not the law. I am asked still to go on fining him because he is an honest, friendly, kindly man. If I do that, he simply keeps on breaking the law. That kind of conduct cannot be tolerated. Fines don’t even check this sort of thing. " I am here to see that the law is enforced. It will have to be a term of imprisonment in this case.” In Curran’s case, the police said that he had taken 590 “ doubles ” on the Wellington races. He had been fined £SOO, including £2OO within four months last year.

The Magistrate said that it would be. only idle pretence to contine fining him.