MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2916, 31 October 1916, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

BETTING TRANSACTION

BOOKMAKER FINED £25

Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M., presided at the Magistrate's Court 'yestorday and dealt with tho following cases:— George Tonipleton, an alleged bookmaker, was oharged with committing four offences under the Gaming Act, two of tho charges being that ho mado bets with Constable Symons on the result of horse races, whereby ho agreed to pay the latter, should ho wm, a sum of ,money, tho amount of which •dopended upon the working of the totalisator on tho races. ■• Constable Symons secured two wins.

Inspector Hendrey prosecutod, and ,Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared for accused.

In giving the facto of tho case, Inspector Hentfroy stated that Constable Symons made two wagers- with tbe accused in respect of two races at tho last Hawko's Bay Meeting. The constable invested 6s. on Sea Lord in the Glenaray Handicap,' and a similar amount on Vagabond in tho Bastings Stakes. The bets wore made in the Britannia Hotol ou the Saturday, and tbo constable collected his dividends, amounting:to £I.lßs. 6d v on tho following Monday. Detective Carney testified that be knew the accused to be a bookmaker. Accused had only lately come into the game, and could hardly be described as one of tbe "old standing firms." Constable Symons stated that he was on special duty on the day ho made the bets. The accused romarked to witness that he would have to he very careful, because if he happened to he caught betting it would cost him £100. Witness gave the name of "James Thompson." Tho Magistrate, doubted whother it could bo held that there had actually been a bet. How could thero be a bet unless the contracting parties had some' agreement between them.

The witness stated that he understood ho was to reccivo the same dividends as were paid out on the totalisator. In cross-examination, witness said he knew nothing about the horses; be picked them haphazardly. No agreement was made; 'he simply said he would have ss. on Sea Lord and ss. on Vagabond. He was sure his bets were with the accused.

In answer to Inspector Hendrey, witness said he went to the Britannia Hotel with a man named James Cameron. They were met by a stranger, who said to the accused, "Here are'two men who want to have a bet."

Detective Gnrnoy, recalled, explained the system of betting praotised by bookmakers. It was based on the totalisator odds within the limits .fixed by the bookmaker'/ which were in Wellington £7 105.,0n the first horse :and £2 10s. on the second.

No evidence was called for the defence. Mr. O'Leary addressed the Bench, and pointed out that the two charges of laying totalisator odds must be dismissed. The other two charges were practically one transaction, and must be treated as such. The Magistrate dismissed two of the charges as indicated' above, and convicted Templetori on the other two Charges.. ' ,■ , . A firio of £25 was. imposed, with costs. OTHER CASES. For .insobriety, four first.:offenders' were leniently deal'with. William Henry Chappell, against whom, there, was a previous conviction, arid who failed to appear, had his.bail (205.). estreated.' : - Joseph Kidd pleaded guilty to stealing £1, the. property, of ..John Black. According to'th'e.easo for the proseoution, the accused,was drinking at the bar.of a City hotol. Black placed « pound note on the counter, and the accused snatched it up and made off with it. Mr. J. J. : MlGrath, Who appeared for accused; said- the troublo with the mail was.drink... Tho theft was committed in -flie presence 0 f six others. Kidd, he said, was a hard-work-ing man, and committed tho theft while under the influence of liquor. The Magistrate inflicted a firio of 405., and ordered 20s,' of tho amount to be paid to Black. -. THEFT OF LIQUOR: A young man named William Smith, a permanent employee of the Harbour Board, pleaded guilty to the theft of three bottles of brandy and lour bottles' of whisky, value 355., the property of tho Wellington. Harbour. Board. Inspector Hendrey stated that a water.isd'o worker was seen by a Customs officer.leaving the wharf with a bottle of whisky at 10 p.m. Next morning accused was interviewed by a detective, when ho denied having taken the liquor,, -but later admitted the theft. Tluy liquor was found in accused's- house.

Mr.-A. W: Blair,- who appeared for accused, said the' man had borne an oxcellent character up to tbo present, and had already been severely punished in the fact that he had lost his position with the. Harbour Board. Ho asked the Magistrate to give the accused a chance, arid order him to come up for sentence when called upon. Tho Magistrate.said accused held a position of trust,as an omplo'yeo of tho Harbour Board, and abused it. He imposed a lino of £5, in default one month's imprisonment.

A CASE DISMISSED.

Jack Laidlaw was charged with using obscene language in Willis Street on October 11. Thocase for tho prosecution was based on tho evidence of a constable, who declared the language used to bo obscene. Another witness declared that no bad language was used.. In view of the conflicting ovldence, the Magistrate dismissed-the case. 'Mr. K.cith Kirkcaldio appeared for accused.