BOOKMAKERS' CASES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1618, 4 December 1905, Page 2

BOOKMAKERS' CASES.

IMPRISONMENT THREATENED. .(Per Press Association.)

Christchurch, last night. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morniDg J. Franklin, bookmaker, was fined £ls on two charges of trespassing on Biccarton racecourse during the November meeting. Thomas Houlihan was fined £3O on three similar charges, Miek Hyelop £ls on two charges, J. Smith £3O on three charges, B. Harrison and P. Sheehan £5 each. The charges against G. Pearce and T. Torpey were dismissed, for there was a question as to whether bookmakers’ clerks were liable to the provisions of the Racing Club’s regulations. The total fines amounted to £llO.. The Magistrate, Mr H. W. Bishop, said he Could find very little excuse for tne commission of the offence, but there was the position that particular matters affectiQg the right to enter the Biccarton course had been fair matters for dispute in the higher Court. On that account he would look upon the cases as if they were new ones. However, those difficulties had now been whittled away, and in future he would not consider the question of how he should deal with bookmakers from the point of view of previous offencps He would consider that the cases could only be met by terms ’of imprisonment.”

11 1 shall inflict no fiaes in future,” His Worship said. 11 They can take that intimation from mo. Future cases of this kind wi}l be dealt with by me on the lines I have indicated. They can take the risk if they like,”