BIG POLICE RAID.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17898, 19 December 1929, Page 5

BIG POLICE RAID.

SEARCH FOR BOOKMAKERS ARRESTB IN SEVERAL TOWNS. KVE APPREHENDED AT HAMILTON. Simultaneous raids were made by police officers in various Waikato towns this morning on premises suspected of being run as common gaming houses. As a result five arrests were made at Hamilton, while others wore effected at Morrinsvllle, Matamata, Rotorua' and Te Puke. The raids, which were on an organised basis, are the largest ever conducted In the Hamilton polloo district- They were carried out with precision and thoroughness and were over before any of the owners of the raided premises had an opportunity of putting any of the others “ wise ” to the polloe operations* Separate parties of officers set off from the police station at Hamilton at intervals and promptly at 11.30 all the premises under suspicion we -e entered by officers hearing search warrants. , Two young men, Charles O’Brien and Hillary Quinn were arrested on warrant on the street and were convoyed to Quinn’s office in Bond’s Buildings, where they were searched and incriminating documents were found on them. This afternoon at the Hamilton Police Court, Charles O’Brien, contractor and Hillary Quinn, insurance agent, w-re each charged'before Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., with carrying on the business of •bookmaker, while Charles Jackson, hairdresser, James Henry Dolemna, tobacconist, and Robert Irvine, hat blooker, were each charged with keeping common gaming houses and with bookm'aking. ; Betting in Bmall Way. Detective-Sergeant Thompson said that O’Brien and Quinn were arrested on warrant by Detective White. When searched O’Brien had in his possession £26 8s 3d, and a quantity of bookmakers’ material. 'Quinn was in possession of £56 15s 9d and bookmakers’ material. The detective said that both men were young and single, and were not Regarded as big bookmakers. They were what were known as silver bettors, with a limit of £5. When ar- ■ rested both intimated .their intention of pleading guilty. Doleman was charged with running a common gaming-house, the charge of bookmaking being dismissed for want of prosecution. Detective-Sergeant Thompson said accused was fined £4O in 1927 for bookmaking. On his premises to-day the police found a large quantity of betting material. • Doleman said he only betted in a small way and had gone into the game owing to the keenness of competition In his ordinary business.

(Proceeding.) RAID AT 'MORRINSVILLE. PLEA OF GUILTY ENTERED. FINE OF £IOO. (Special to Times.) MORRINSVILLE, Thursday. Constable Heaps this morning arrested Stephen Bain on a charge of keeping a common gaming house. Accused later appeared before Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., He pleaded guilty and was fined £IOO.