Heavy Fine For Sportsmen's Secretary

Chronicle (Levin), 6 May 1948, Page 5

Heavy Fine For Sportsmen's Secretary

^ AUCKLAND, May 5. On four out of six charges of aiding persons in carfying on the illegal business oi' bookinaking, the secretary and treasurer of the Dominion Sportsmen's Association, Gharles Robert 1'oole, aged 47, was found guilly by a jury. Mr. Justice Fair imposed lines totalling £3(JU aml placed Poole on probation for three vears. The charges, which referred to dates from November 28 to January 3, alleged that accused had assistecl the bookinaking businesses of Maurice Garran O 'Shea, Kisha Bana, Ilenry Clifton Sallery. Alfred .Molvin Wyatt, Francis Regis Malloy and William Blow, all conv ii-ted bookmakers. - Mr. Leicester, for accused, said the Crown Prosecutor had, in etfect, been unfair to accused who was simply a paid offieial of the association and had nothing to do with its choice of name. The association did. not consist by anv means wholly of bookmakers or even of men who had at oue tiine been bookmakers. Out of 300 menibers the police had failed to iind more than 80 who had been convicted 'of oil'ences against the Ganiing A-t , said counsel. A bookmaker did not compel anvone to deal with liim and if he were unfair or unsporting, it was diliicult to see how he could carry on business at all. The main ingredient in the charges seemed to be the sending out of cyclostvled sheets of dividends. Other charges ot publishing dividends had yet to be heard against Poole in the Magistrate's Court. His Honour said the jury might think there was ground for reasonable criticism that this organisation should be asked by the comniercial aiul national radio services, to supply information. Of course the broadcasting authorities did not know tliat the Dominion Hportsnien 's Association was illegal but oue would have thought that they might well have suspected it. The Post and Telegraph Department had had no occasion to set on foot an inquiry into the legalitv of the association 's business. That was the business of the police, The Crown relied on. the general fact that this organisation was primarilv concerned in assisting bookmakers to carry on their business as bookmakers. After an absence of three hours the jury acquitted accused on charges of assisting ObShea and Kallery and found him guiltv on eacli of the other four charges. ilis Honour expressed his entire agreement and said such wilful and continued breaches of the law as in this case, must expose a man to eommensurate punishment. This case would be treated as an exceptional oue but anv other person continuously eixgaged on illegal activities must expect a torm of imprisoument. Ilis Honour imposed a liue of £100 on each of three of the charges and on the fourth suspended sentence for three yaurs on condition that accused ac-

cepted only such employment as was approved by the probation officer. Three months was allowed for the payment of the fines.