“MENACE TO SOCIETY.”

Wairarapa Age, 15 June 1931, Page 5

“MENACE TO SOCIETY.”

MASI ESTON BOOKMAKER FINED £4O. 1 “Men like you are a menace to society,” said Mr. J. Miller, S.M., in the Masterton Magistrate’s Court on Saturday when imposing a fine ol £4O on a Masterton man, John James I Brennan, alias Storie, alias Brownlie, aged 36, charged with carrying on the business of a bookmaker in Masterton an 1 surrounding district. The Magistrate refused a request from Brennan for time to pay the fine, default being fixed at 3 months’ imprisonment. On a charge of vagrancy accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence, if called up, within twelve months. Bergt. T. H. Dyer stated that Brennan had been residing in Masterton for the past 12 months and for W portion of that time had been employed at the Waingawa Freezing Works. Accused had done no work since April 4 last. In consequence of complaints the Police had had Brennan under observation for some time. Accused had been carrying on the business of a bookmaker for the past 12 months and had operated chiefly amongst the employees at the Waingawa Works and the Municipal Gas Works and had also visited various boarding houses in Masterton for the purpose of taking bets. Complaintst had been made by a number of married women about their husbands coming home with only half their wages. Accused, who was arrested that morning by Constable Le Comte, was quite frank about the matter and said he had been carrying on bookmaking in a small way for the past 12 months. He also visited Carterton but operated chiefly at the Waingawa Works. Brennan used a motor car for the purpose of going round the various places to take bets but this had been seized owing to the payments not being kept up. Accused had been in trouble previously hut had not been before the Court since 1928. This wa| the first time he had been charged with bookmaking and vagrancy. Mb Asked by Mr. Miller is he had anytVing to say accused said that if he were given a chance he would cut out bookmaking. He also stated that he had prospects of work. “ There are quite a number of these parasites springing up around the town .%nd they have got to be put down,” observed Sergt. Dyer. Pointing out to accused that he was liable to a fine of £5OO, the Magistrate stated that the arresting feature of bookmaking was that it caused a good feal of distress. “You have frequented these works and relieved men of «heir hard-earned money/’ he said. “The men don’t matter so much but it is the women who and your operations have caused considerable distress.”