WELLINGTON SUPREME COURT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8353, 9 February 1907, Page 5

WELLINGTON SUPREME COURT.

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, February 8. ® At the Supreme Court, to-day, Ah Chow, found guilty of carnally knowing a girl under 16, and H. Yow Lee, who pleaded guilty to a similar offence, were put forward for sentence. They were sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment. His Honour took into consideration the fact that the girls had been previously corrupted, and the jury's recommendation of Ah Chow to mercy on the ground of solicitation by the girl. [ William Scott and Harry Martindale pleaded not guilty to an indictment of four coijnts charging them with keeping a betting house on Lambton Quay, and of receiving money for the purposes of betting. Two probationary constables gave evidence that on a series of dates they visited the defendants' premises and made bets with each of the de- , fendants, and received dividends paid by accuseds, and saw defendants take bets from and pay money to others. Counsel for the defence pointed out that it was not illegal to carry on the business of a bookmaker. The Legislature could not prohibit bookmaking while it legalised the totalisator. What was illegal was a localisation of the business. The onus was on the Crown to prove an i actual physical resorting to the place for the purposes of betting. It was not sufficient to establish mere casual betting. There must be a keeper or user of the place. The evidence of the probationary constables was such as must heavily dis- ; count it in the minds of the jury, j The jury brought in a verdict of not guilty, .and the defendants were | discharged.

CABLE NEWS.

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright,