THE GAMING ACT.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14889, 31 January 1914, Page 15

THE GAMING ACT.

BOOKMAKER FINED £50. Before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, George Roper pleaded not guilty to betting on December 31st on licensed premises, the Al Hotel. Mr Cassidy appeared for defendant, who pleaded not guilty. Constable Black stated that on December 30th last, acting on instructions received, he went to the Al Hotel and j stopped thero as a. boarder. He went : along to the hotel at 10 in the morning and sat down in a room between two private bars. Witness saw defendant there. V Witness stopped in the room' about a quarter of an hour and then left the hotel. Roper was in the room all tho time. Witness returned to the hotol at about 12.15, and after having lunch wont down to the room between the bars at about a, quarter to two. Roper was in the roonr talking to three or four men. From what/ witness could make out the talk was about racing on January Ist. Ono man asked for a. card, which Roper gave him., Something was said to Roper, who opened his pocket-book and wrote something in it. Witness saw no money pass. Witness saw Roper make notes later in the day. Tho following! day witness went into the same room j again. Roper was thero with two men and had a drink. He stayed there till about three and went away. Ho came back at about a quarter to five. Four or five men came in with him. A man, whom witness had been in conversation with about races, wont over" to Roper and asked for a race card. He got one from him, and bringing it over to witness, asked him to pick out what horses he liked. Witness pioked out* two horses for one double And two horses for another. These horses were marked off the card, ivhich was then handed back to Roper. Witness gave 10s for the two doubles. 5s each. He was. to get £10 for each os. When witness handed Roper the money, Roper said: "I was a bit suspicious of you yesterday, but I suppose it's all right." Witness replied: "If it's all right, yon need not be frightened of mc." Witness then left the room. Roper entered the' names of tho horses in his pocket-book with tho initials witness gave him. "B.B." To Mr Cnssidy: Neither of his doubles won.- He wns ouite certain he handed the money to Ropor, and not to the other man. Roper never asked witness to **iake a bet. Detoctive Gibson said defendant was a bookmaker, and since January of last year he had been continually in the Al Hotol. He had no occupation other than -flint of a bookmaker. * I Chief-Detective Bishop said he attended the Phimnton races on January Ist and 2nd, and tho horses picked by Black were running. Mr Cassidy submitted that the constable was an accomplice within the! meaning of the law. The constable was j expressly sent along to the hotel to] make the bet: Roner did not ask hrm f to make it. Tt therefore required the constable's evidence to be corroborated.' and this had not been done. It was very doubtful if it were, not the unknown man who acted as intermediary that the bet had been made with. There being no corroborative evidence against Roper. Mr Cassidy submitted that the case should be dismissed. Ho left the matter to his Worship. The Magistrate said tho constable's evidence had been given very clearly and veiy fairly. He would convict. Chief-Detective Bishop said there were two previous convictions against defendant. Mr Cnssidy said there was only one. Chief-Detective Bishop accepted Mr Caasidy'e statement. Defendant was fined £50. j