BETTING PARASITE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1931, Page 8

BETTING PARASITE

"COMPLAINT BY WOAIEN. AIASTERTON, June 15. “There are quite a number of these parasites springing up about the town aid they iiave got to be put down,” stated Sergeant T. Dyer in the Aia-ster-ton Magistrate’s Court when John James Brennan, alias Storee alias Brownlee, tnirty six years of age, was charged witn bookmaking. A charge of being an idle and disorderly person wa,s .also preferred against Brennan He pleaded guilty to both charges. Sergeant Dyer said that, the police had had accused under observation for some time. He had been in Alasterton for about twelve months and had been employed for a period at the Waingawu Freezing Works, but he had done no work since April 4. He had been carrying on the business of a bookmaker lor the past twelve- months, operating chiefly among the- employee at the AVaingawa works and the Alasterton gasworks. He h d also visited boardinghouses in the town for the purpose of taking bets. In consequence of this complaints had come from married women that their husbands were coming home at the week-' end with only half their wages. He had been arrested by Constable Lc Comte, and when questioned was quite frank and admitted laying small doubles for about twelve months. A substantial penalty was asked for. The Afagistrnte (Mr J. Miller) commented that the arresting feature o! the case was that accused had frequented works and relieved workmen of their hard-earned money. The men did not matter .so much. Tt was the women who suffered. Brennan’s mode of operating probably caused more distress than did the big bookmakers. Men such as he were a menace to society.

A fine of £4O, in default three months’ imprisonment,, was imposed on the charge of bookmaking. On the charge of vagrancy Brennan was convicted and ordered to come up tor sentence if called -upon within twelve months.