BOOKMAKERS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 745, 28 July 1876, Page 2

BOOKMAKERS.

(to the editor op the ditnstan times.) Sir —The recent prosecution under the provisions of the Vagrant Act, by the Dunedin police, against a pseudo bookmaker, John Coleman, opens up a subject well deserving of consideration, the more especially as Parliament is now in session, and some action should be at once taken to purge, the Statute Book of this obnoxious and arbitrary act. There can be little room to doubt but that the calling of a bookmaker is in itself a legitimate trade, and tends not only to enhance the funds of various racing clubs, but also contribute in no small degree to the success of the meeting. I am now assuming that the parties plying that vocation are legit'mate Bookmakers, and not blacklegs, who live more by card sharping—watching for drunken men, and then fleecing them with “ crooked dice and pictures,” (a slang term for a prepared pack of playing cards.) Let us suppose then that a bookmaker such as Henderson, Sikey, J. J. Miller, and thers, of Victorian fame, were to be charged under the Act with having no lawful visible means of support, and the onus proiandi cast upon them. Not that I for a moment suppose action would be taken against gentlemen of their stamp, but if the police thought fit the law empowered them so to act, and gives the aggrieved party no remedy by an action for defamation of character. The thanks of the community at large are due to Inspector Mallard for the late prosecutions, as too many of these “ fast, nice young men” periodically pay the country towns a visit, and enrich themselves not by bookmaking on racing events, but by downright swindling. It is not so very long ago that one of these birds of passage (Golberg) committed a robbery at the Albert Town races, and afterwards at Cromwell, for which he was committed for trial, and underwent twelve months’ impiisonment with hard labor. Another instance where the renowned Drake escaped by putting his mate in for it, and there are several of the young fry who are in every sense of the term wandering vagabonds, and who by their nefarious practices bring disgrace upon the sporting fraternity. How, your readers will ask, is this state of things to be remedied ? Easily enough. I would suggest that each club have a register, and that any person calling himself a bookmaker must be registered before being allowed to practice on any racecourse—say a fine of two guineas to go to the funds, and the person registered liable to dismissal at the will of the stewards. By this means security would be afforded the racing public and the sporting and betting ring. Unless some such stops bo taken, it will be found that respectable men will cease to take an interest in racing, and the result will bo similar to that now in vogue on many of the courses in England, namely, “ No betting allowed.” But to return to the Vagrant Act—the general acceptation of the word vagrant is a wandering vagabond, and every nine persons out of ten think that the act solely applies to those having no visible moans of support, or soliciting alms in a public thoroughfare ; this is au illusion, as, if two well-to-do business men have a fall-out in the street, or in a house, and use cither obscene threats or abusive language within the hearing of passers by, the Vagrant Act of 1860 deals with the offender who, if convicted, is so convicted as a vagrant, notwithstanding that ho might ho possessed of more capital and means than those who sat in judgment. It is not asserting too much to state that

this pernicious act places too much power in the hands of the police, and which by some unlettered members is apt to be used indiscreetly, not to odd, tyranically. I close by venturing to observe that it is devoutly to be wished that these card sharpers and blacklegs will take warning, and not at the up-country meetings in the future honor the race course with their unwelcome presence. Bookmakers are ever welcome, not so counterfeits. I am, etc., Pill-box, Nevis, July 18, 1876.