BOOKMAKER SENTENCED.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18421, 30 June 1925, Page 6

BOOKMAKER SENTENCED.

Appeal lodged. " ;FRESS ASSOCIATION - TEtEGSAiI.) AUCKLAND. June 29. Judgment was given by Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M., iu the Magistrate's Court, in a ease in which William 'O. Brown, a linesman, was charged on eight informations with betting with a constable. Brown was originally charged with carrying on tho business of a bookmaker. *Ho objected to a Magistrate hearing the other charges, on tho ground that he intended to elect to bo tried by a jury before tho .Supreme Court cm the charge of carrying on the business of a bookmaker. lie questioned the right of the prosecutor to substitute summary charges to defeat the major charge going before the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice, Sir Bobert. Stout, refused the application for a writ of prohibition, and accordingly Mr Poynton delivered judgment. He held it proved that accused was a bookmaker who betted totalisa-tor odds with the constable, also that there was evidence of a system. Brown was found guilty on one charge. The Magistrate said it was not a case for a tine. Accused was fined £301) a year ago, but it would appear that the line had no deterrent, effect. He inflicted a sentence of o"J days' imprisonment. Security for appeal was fixed at £'2o. The warrant was suspended, and the other cases adjourned pending any appeal.