SECOND FLUTTER

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXII, Issue 8872, 12 February 1943, Page 2

SECOND FLUTTER

WA HU won AN TAKES BETS HAILED BEFORE COURT SOME INTERESTING ASPECTS Whether women who took bets that were not sponsored ljy the law should be easily dealt with because they were women was a point raised in the Waihi .Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. when IT'arcie Irene Culpan, a fruiterer and confectioner, of Rosemont Road. Waihi. admitted having canned mi the business of a common gaming-house. Mr F. C. V. Clark appeared for her. Sergeant A. Bisset said that at 2 o’clock in the afternoon of February 5 Constable K. X. Crisp and he executed a search-warrant of the premises and found there betting' material which was 'produced in court. Defendant was a woman of good reputation, and had four children, two of whom were serving with the Armed Forces. She had one previous conviction for having kept a common gaming-house, and had been fined £2O. Revulsion Against Law

Counsel said he thought it but proper to coniine himself, in addressing the magistrate, to the question of penalty. It was generally recognised, however, that there was a revulsion of feeling against the Statute that made hookmaking an illegal practice: but the job of the magis-

trate was admittedly to administer the law as set down. Defendant did not conduct a business in her own behalf. hut look bets on the basis of 2s in the pound, and was answerable for all moneys to her principal. Names On The Books Mr W. 11. Freeman. SAL: An agent for a bookie. Mr Clark said that any line imposed would have to he paid by del endant. as had been done before. The Magistrate (musingly, looking at the hooks): 1 see quite a few names here. Mr Clark: 1 can assure your Worship that mine is not among them. The Magistrate: 1 was not looking for it, Mr Chirk. His Worship, with a reminiscent smile, told of other bonks he had seen in which names were dollied with decent nakedness. “.Jack So-and-So.” said his erudite worship, became, if he were a draper, for instance, ‘‘-Jack Rags.” “No( Case For Heavy Penalty” Counsel suggested that the case was not one for a heavy penalty, and the magistrate asked the sergeant what lie had to say. “Well, sir.” replied Sergeant Bisset, “defendant was lined £2O before, and all I can say is that she is not in a big way.” Defendant, was lined £2O again .