TWO MEN FINED FOR BOOKMAKING AT TE TEKO RACES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 67, 10 July 1950, Page 5

TWO MEN FINED FOR BOOKMAKING AT TE TEKO RACES

Although pleading not guilty to a charge of -bookmaking Gordon J. Sharplin, Tauranga, admitted when accosted by the police at the Te Teko rates on March 25 that he was a bookmaker by occupation. He was seen taking money from vari- , ous people and the sequel was a charge of bookmaking in the Whakatane Magistrate’s Court on Friday before Mr E. L. Walton, S.M. A taxi driver, Francis J. Bremner, Tauranga, was charged with assisting him and also pleaded not guilty. Sharplin, who had been convicted previously for bookmaking was fined costs 10s, and Bremner £ls, costs 10s. Senior-Sergeant F. Fuller said that he was on duty at the Te Teko: races, a non-totalisator meeting, on March 25 and during the day saw accused approached by people carrying money. Money waS handed to Bremner while Sharplin made entries in a book.

When accosted Bremner said they jl* were offering better odds than anyone else at five to one and were giving the public a “fair go.” The senior sergeant said he saw at least 20 people approach accused. It was not just an isolated ca,se of taking one bet. When asked what their »occupations were Sharplin said he was a bookmaker and Bremner said he was a taxi, driver. He ordered them to leave the course and they did so. Sharplin said that on March 25 he and Bremner came to the Te Teko meeting to bring a jockey. When he arrived on the course a •number of people recognised him ;as a bookmaker and he then carried on business as a bookmaker. Bremner only assisted him by holding the money. In reply to senior-sergeant Fuller .'accused said Bremner only held the money although a few may have '. handed the money direct to him. Bremner said that while he and ' Sharplin were on the course a number of people approached Sharplin to take bets. He become so busy that accused offered to hold some of the money. It was only when Sharplin was too busy that he took the money from anyone.

Ordered To Clean Up Premises

Charged with occupying premises dangerous to health Benjamin A. Mcrherson. Thornton, was fined £3, costs £3 2s, by Mr E. L. Walton. S.M., on Friday. The inspector of health stationed at Whakatane, Mr A. Ih Knights, said that he had visited accused in response to many complaints and found him living in very unsatisfactory conditions. He had warned McPherson that he would have to clean the place up but so far nothing had been done. Accused had constructed some living shelter near the river on the side of the Edgecumbe-Thornton highway.

Whakatane Traffic Offences

Several traffic offences were dealt with by Mr E. L. Walton, S.M. in the Whakatane Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Allan Kingsley Caverhill (Mr Otley) sharemilker, Manawahe, was fined 10s, costs 12s, for driving a motor truck which had no warrant of fitness. A charge of dangerous driving was dismissed. Laurence Andrews Alley (Mr Otley), Awakeri, fined £5 costs 12s, for dangerous drivng. For driving a motor car when he was not the holder of a driver’s lienee Thomas R. Maxwell, clerk, was fined ss, costs 10s. On charges of driving motor vehicles which had no warrant of fitness Bryan Miller, photographer, was fined 10s, costs 10s, and John Savage, plate layer, Awakeri, 10s, costs 18s.

Judgment Summons Orders

The following judgment summons orders were dealt with by Mr E. L. Walton, S.M., at Whakatane on Friday: Bob Hape to pay J. W. Gcodhew (Mr Barry.) £22 4s lid, costs £2 2s, in default 22 days’ gaol, warrant to be suspended on condition of 10s being paid weekly; Bob Hape to pay J. W. Goodhew (Mr Barry) £8 0s sd, costs £1 Is, in default 8 days’ gaol, warrant to be suspended on condition of 'los be ing paid weekly; Henry Hudson to pay N. E. Rigden and Co. £4 7s 2d, costs 10s 6d. in default four days’ gaol.