BOOKMAKING CHARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1930, Page 3

BOOKMAKING CHARGE

DEFENCE REJECTED

WELLINGTON, September 25. A story told by Frank London, aged twenty-nine years, a hairdresser, that, he had merely obliged bis customers by accept.»g bets from them and “resetting” the money with .bookmakers without receiving any commission, was rejected by Mr Rage S.M., in tlie Police Court to-day; accused being fined £IOO for keeping a common gam-ing-house at 58, Hobart Street, Miramar. William James, aged twenty years, *a hairdresser, was fined £5 for assisting in’the - conduct of the house. Police Constables Trask and Phillips gave evidence of hearing betting talk while being shaved. They .subsequently laid various bets.

Detective ’ Bayliss said that he visited the shop on September 6 with De-tective-Sergeant Holmes, when London admitted taking bets, which, he said he passed on to a bookmaker. An anonymous complaint had , been made that the shop was being used as a common gaming-house. A marked £1 note was among London's cash. Double charts and race cards also were found.

For the defence, M,r Perry submitted that the shop could, not bo defined as a common gaming-house, as the beting was, not il regular business, ,aiul the ..money,, had only been; accepted, to oblige the customers and passed on to a. bookmaker,.- • • .. ■ • '

‘ Accused ..gjirvei-.evidence in support. : . The Magistrate said it had been abundantly, proved that the: accused London had carried on a betting business.., Regarding the .submission that London had acted as agent for his customers that relied for support on London’s uncorroborated evidence. He had declined to disclose the name of the bookmaker, and had produced no books of gny. sort. Looking at tin whole facts, the reasonable and proper interpretation was that London was bookmaking, either on his own account or in collaboration with other bookmakers as was done ill many cases. Accused were each given fourteen days/in which to 1 pay the'fines. Default was fixed at three-,.months’ in prisonment in the case of London: and one month in theicase of James. 1