GAMING LAW.

Wairarapa Age, 5 August 1930, Page 5

GAMING LAW.

WELLINGTON BOOKMAKERS FINED. SIX MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT IN DEFAULT. WELLINGTON, August 4. Heavily fined on bookmaking charges about three months ago, Ralph Ellis Thompson, aged 50, and Thomas Phillips, aged 58, were arrested on similar charges again on Saturday afternoon when a party of police carried out raids on several city premises. Both the accused pleaded'guilty to carrying on business as bookmakers when they appeared before Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Dete?tjye-Sergeant Holmes said that Thompson had been betting for some time past, and when he was arrested he had a betting book with a number of bets recorded in it. He also had £2O 15s 9d in his possession. Phillips, said the detective-sergeant, had £43 IBs 2d on him, and his book showed that he had taken 43 bets on Saturday. When charged, the accused said, “This is the end of all betting with me.” Mr J. Scott, on behalf of Thompson, and Mr. H. F. O'Leary, for Phillips, urged that fines should be inflicted instead of sending the men to gaol The Magistrate: “Well, Mr. Scott, you ask me to impose a fine when the previous fine inflicted three months ago has not been paid?” Counsel: “That is so, sir. It is being paid. He is doing his best.” The Magistrate: “I think I should accept the sentence imposed by the Supreme Court as some indication that this Court should treat these offenders not merely as a source of revenue to the country, but to show that the law intends that this offence shall cease. I propose to dine each of the accused £3OO, and, in default of payment, they will each be sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. I will allow in the case of Phillips fourteen days in which to pay and Thompson one month. Ido not hold out any hope whatever of an extension of those periods.” Two other men involved in Saturday’s raids were charged with keeping a common gaming house at a shop at 50 Ghuznee Street. Their names were August Hjalmar Peterson, aged 36, and Thomas Quin, aged 35, and both pleaded not guilty. On the application of Detective-Sergeant Holmes they were remanded until August 11. Bail was allowed in their own bonds of £lOO (P.A.)