DEALING WITH SPIELERS

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 347, 22 February 1902, Page 3

DEALING WITH SPIELERS

GIVING THEM A WARM TIME IN GISBORNE.

The spielers who flock to race meetings are finding that Gisborne is rather a warm town in which to try on their nefarious practices. The police have been closely shepherding the fraternity that has been seeking to reap a harvest in Gisborne, with the result that some of the smart young fellows have been getting a bad time. Yesterday two visitors to Gisborne named John Delaney and George Smith were dealt with. Sergeant Siddells and Detective Nixon gave evidence to the effect that both men were a very bad lot. Both prisoners gave evidence on their own behalf, claiming that they were men of respectability, and not of the dark moral hue that the other evidence had painted them. After the evidence had been concluded, His Worship said : “ There is no doubt in my mind that you come within the definition of an idle and disorderly person as laid down in the Police Offences Act. It is quite clear to me that you belong to a class who would sooner do anything than work, and prefer following races, idling, and living on your wits. It is a most discreditable manner of getting a livelihood. Such men as you are a perfect nuisance to society. There might be some sort of excuse for you but for the fact that there is plenty of work to be done in this district. You are both too lazy to work. I would strongly urge upon you when you are released from the sentences I am about to impose to endeavor to lead a better life, otherwise you will only be in the hands of the police again. You, Delaney, will be sentenced to four months’ imprisonment in Napier goal, and you, Georgo Smith, to two months.”