“THE BIGGEST BOOKMAKER"

Evening Star, Issue 19794, 18 February 1928, Page 4

“THE BIGGEST BOOKMAKER"

. - AUCKLAND CHARGES [Feb Uhited Press Association.] AUCKLAND, February 17. Described by the police as being “ the biggest bookmaker in Auckland,” Robert Francis Bennett, of Vauxhall road. Devonport, was cross-examined in the Police Court, wdien the hearing of charges which alleged lie had loitered in Wairoa road for the purpose of betting at the recent meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club was resumed. The police statements alleged that Bennett had waited outside the racecourse to make bets. Chief-detective Hammond said that Bennett was a bookmaker, and had no other occupation.' He stated that the defendant had an office in Swanson street, where an unlisted telephone was to be found. On a road in Devonport a slip of paper bearing a “ bumble bee ” was picked up. The chief detective described it as being one of Bennett’s race charts. Bennett had denied that he was in Wairoa road for the purpose of betting, saying that he had gone to the fence to have bets put on the totalisator for himself. After cross-examination Mr Finlay contended that the police had failed to prove that Bennett had been at the races for the purpose of betting. “The question for me to decide is whether the tale I am told by the defence is a plausible answer or not,” said the Magistrate. Mr Finlay: Exactly. Judgment was reserved.