BOOKMAKER CHARGED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 15, 11 February 1942, Page 5

BOOKMAKER CHARGED

POLICE ACTIVE ON SATURDAY

FINE OF FIFTY POUNDS

Charged with keeping a common gaming house James Clarence Dempster Rivett appeared before Messrs G. A. Brabant and J. G. Mulholland at the local court on Monday morning and was fined fifty pounds.

Sergeant M. Farrell prosecuting stated that the arrest was effected on Saturday last when the premises were visited and evidence found that a commofi gaming house was being kept in the premises of the British Fruiterers. The offender had been in business for some time and it was known that he was carrying on the business of a bookmaker. The material seized revealed that bets taken Avere all small involving stims of five and ten shillings and the operations were not in a "big way."'

Continuing, the Sergeant stated that Rivett was an exceptionaly "respectable citizen and was well known in the town.

The Bench stated that in such cases it preferred that a Magistrate should deal with the offenders, but as the Stipendiary Magistrate visited the town only once monthly and had been gone only a few dayjf&l it was necessary that a decision should he given. It Avas realised that the offender was in a "small way" only, but however, it was not his first appearance on such a charge and ho. would know that he could be fined up to £100. The amount of the fine was then nominated.