Bookmaker Sent To Gaol

Chronicle (Levin), 14 June 1949, Page 6

Bookmaker Sent To Gaol

Press Association)

(Per

CHRISTCHURCH, June 13.. For oarryiiig on the business of a bookmaker, John Fraiu'is Hadden, was sehteneed to a month 's imprisonment vvith hani labour, by Mr. Rex C. Abei netliy, S.M., today. "I am not concerned witli anything but the stri'ct law of the country, " said tlie Magistrale. What a commission said or what it proposed did not conce>n him at this stage. The expressions of higher Courts 011 what was "a tit thing to do with a man wlio persists in booicinaking, " were his only consideration apart from the law itself, in fixing the penalty. Ilaving vegard to accused 's previous convictions, he would impose a term of imprisonment. Detectiv-Rergeant R. >S. Smith said Madden was 43 vears old and was a bookmaker in a substantial way. On June 11 deteetives found that up to 12.30 p.m. bets for £330 had been taken and another £50 was taken in the next half hour. Madden had been fined £150 for bookmaking last August. Mr. R. Twvneham, counsel for Madden, said he hau reopened his business only reeentiy because of "extreme pres"sure" from former customers in fiome di.stricts. It appeared that the result of the gaming poll influenced the weight of the punishment imposed 011 bookmakers. All the poi] decided was that ofF-course betting should be fully catered for and that the racing autliorities were a suitable organisation to manage the seheme. " 1 1 I "