GAMING HOUSE

Hokitika Guardian, 8 January 1929, Page 5

GAMING HOUSE

NUMBER OF CHARGES. (By Telegraph—Press Association). Ci l LvI.STOII L'IKK, Jan. 8. Li (lie .Magistrate’s Court Airs Alary Alitclicll was lined £BO on a charge or using her promises at 52 Oxford Terrace as a common gaming house. Her husband, Robert .James Watson Atitohcll, who Faced a similar charge pleaded not guilty and the case was dismissed For want oF prosecution. The Chief Detective said that Alitchell’s premises, a lish shop, were raided on December 81. On the telephone was a list showing nearly lilteen pounds worth of bets. Soon after the police arrived. .Matron Dodgers answered the telephone and took three more bets, all winners. The nolice Found a statement showing, bets were being taken For some other person and that Airs .Mitchell was getting a commission. She had frankly admitted the olFeiice.

In Fixing the fine, .Magistrate Alesley said bookmakers were pretty hard to catch and when they were caught, they had to pay. The fact that Alls Mitchell had put no opposition in the wav of the police, had weighed considerably with the Court. lie could not possblv let her off with a nominal penalty, as there was conclusive proof she was in a pretty big way of business. Albert Edward Baldwin charged with being found on the premises was. Fined £3. Charles Shroll who admitted being on the premises was lined £2. Patrick Walsh and Robert .Michael Cox were each charged with carrying on business of a bookmaker. Walsh was also charged with keeping a common gaming house and Cox with assisting in keeping a common gaming house. Albert Kliouri charged with being found without lawful excuse on the premises of a common gaming house at Fifi Mills Hoad. In each of These cases the accused were remanded for a week on bail. All charges arc the result of police raids on New Year’s Eve.