AMATEUR “BOOKIE.”

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1925, Page 4

AMATEUR “BOOKIE.”

norm jo laid too freely. GISBORNE, March li. The story of an amateur bookmaker’ flight from* 1} uatoren, was told in til Magistrate's Court to-day, and iuei dentally the pains and penalties tie scribed as possible in that coastal ten Ire acre dramatically described. lien jarnin Bennett, with several aliases pleaded guilty to a charge ,of book making at: liuntoron.

1 Detective McLeod said the aeeuset ■ arrived at Ruatorca on February 20th from Auckland, and commented bet- • ting, fie ran a “book” on the iU'th. the day of the Opotiki races, and also proceeded to lay doubles on the Ruatorea races. He was hit in his operations and disappeared without paying his clients, the amount involved being between £2OO and £300., Mr Want-hop. for the defence, said that Bennett heard that work was obtainable in this district. Unfortunately lie [net with some racing people going to Runtorea, and it was suggested to him that something could be made in the way of a “book.” ft was his first attempt, for it was not suggested by the police that he had been at the game before. In fact, his want of knowledge was his downfall. He bad been simply led astray. He had no intention of heating anyone, but through bis want of knowledge be laid doubles that were unprofitable, and be laid them too often. There was no totalisntor at Runtorea, and consequently accused was not in competition with the Government. „People would bet, ami those who would bet with a bookmaker

were as much at fault as the bookmaker himself. Bets were made for a time. Those were met and settled, but a double that was expected to have no chanc-e won. Catastrophe thus fell upon Bennett, and he left the course, or the Buatorea natives would have had an old-time cannibal feast. In fact it was stated they had the pot boiling. Accused slipped away to the hotel, but the natives followed, and made a demonstration. Mis client, by this time was in a blue funk. It put ilie fear of death into him. At the hotel lie said lie would pay out in the morning, but this was only to gair time. Ilis nerve was gone and he die the only thing lie could. Me left quietly. Air AVaucliop urged that his client should be given a chance by a fine instead of imprisonment. He niiderstomL* that friends at Auckland would come to his assistance and there was work here to he obtained.

His AYirsliop: lie won't go to Buatorea again. (Laughter). Air AVaucliop: “No, he won’t.” Counsel added that he felt sure accused would make good if given a chance. Mis AYarship said that seeing that accused had not been ill the habit of bookiiiaking, he would give him an opportunitv. Me would impose a line of £34 with costs 40s. in deiaiilt three months’ imprisonment.