ILLEGAL ART UNION.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18697, 25 July 1932, Page 7

ILLEGAL ART UNION.

FRANK ADMISSION MADE. ** VICTIM OF THE DEPRESSION.” I WANTED MONEY FOR OPERATION. Described by his counsel as a ‘‘viowm of the depression,” a respectablelooking middle-aged man named William Winter Browne, single, appeared In The Hamilton Magistrate’s Court ■this morning, before Mr P. W. plaUs - S.M., and pleaded guilty to a charge of establishing a lottery In the form of an art union. To a further charge •of being an idle and disorderly person be pleaded not guilty. Outlining the facts, Senior Sergeant J. Sweeney said accused was a single- man who had been residing in Auckland for some time. On Thursday last he arrived In Hamilton and put up at a local boarding-house. He set out Co sell art union tickets at 6d each and exhibited several articles whloh he said would be disposed of by lottery. Interviewed on Saturday evening, he frankly admitted to the w, police that he had been earning a livelihood for some months selling art union tickets and acquiring the pro'oeeds for himself. Ho had 2000 tickets printed in Auckland. These tickets notified that the proceeds would be devoted to a returned soldier. It transpired that accused was the returned soldier, having gerved In the South African War. Raffled Articles. Sergeant M. J. Angland gave evidence that the accused admitted running the art union when arrested. Ho said his last constant job was la Gisborne about two years ago. In a statement to the police aocused admitted he was raffling articles made by a woman in Hamilton. He stated the art union was to raise monoy for an operation which ho oould not had had he remained on relief works. Ho admitted the returned soldier referred to in his statement was himself. He had no license from the Minister of Internal Affairs to conduot an art •union. Cross-examined, witness admitted that aoousod was mistakenly arrested for another man at the police station. Had accused not made a frank statement of his operations the charge would no-t have been laid and he would have been a free man. Witness had heard of no complaint from anyone regarding the accused selling the tickets. Constable P. Watts said he found the bundle of tickets (produced) in accused’s room in the boarding-house. The tickets showed that numbers 501 to 545 had been sold In Hamilton. Witness also found a box of marbles in accused’s room which Browne admitted wero used In connection with ■the raffles he was conducting. Witness knew that Browne had had other hooks of tickets printed In Auckland. To counsel for tho accused, wltO ness agreed that Browne's operations ' started only on Saturday. So far as he knew there was no criminal rocord against the accused. Tried to Sell First. Counsel said the accused oould not be classed as vagabond. He was a victim of circumstances and had had constant work until the depression as an operator of cinematograph Aims, •lie oould produoe high references from his previous employers. Counsel emphasised that aooused’s chief operations oonsisted of taking orders for cushions, table -centres and lampshades. If people would not buy the articles he suggested them taking tickets In a raffle. Giving evidence, the aooused confirmed the statements of oounsel. He was unfit for heavy manual work and had been advised to have an operation. He had been obliged to run raffles ■to attempt to raise sufficient money for this. He had served in the South Afrloan War hut had been classed as unlit for service in the Great War. He had never had complaints as to the manner ho was running the art union though he reooghised now that It was Illegal. Cross-examinod, accused swore that he always endeavoured to sell tho artioles before broaching tho subjoot of the art union. Senior Sergeant Sweeney: It was hardly honest by calling yourself a returned soldier?—l served in' the South African War and it was not my fault I didn’t go away In the last wax. u ln view -of the faots and aocused’s reoord I shall dismiss tlie charge of idle and disorderly,” said His Worship. "The other charge however, yL is a serious one. Accused has committed a clear breach of the Gaming Act and is liable to a penalty up to £2OO or six months’ Imprisonment. 1 •shall take into consideration the accused's character, his difficulties of getting employment and his frankness to the police. 11c will ho fined £10." Aoousod was allowed one month In which to pay the fine.