BETTING CASES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16484, 25 February 1914, Page 12

BETTING CASES.

TWO BOOKMAKERS BEFORE THE y COURT. | HEAVY FINES IMPOSED. ? Two bookmakers, who were arrested it the Riccarton Racecourse on Febljuary 7, appeared at the Magistrate’s <|ourt, before Mr H. AV. Bishop, S.M., Yesterday. Anthony AVatson, the first accused, pleaded not guilty. Mr M. Donnelly defended him, and ChiefDetective Bishop conducted the case fbr the police. | Detective Regan said that while on the racecourse at 3 p.m., just before taie Midsummer Handicap, he saw AVatam near the scraping sheds. Four persons came up and handed something to him, and on each occasion he made a note in a book. At that moment Detective-Sergeant Hunt and Mr Rraetzer approached, and AVatson rushed into the shed, tore a leaf out of his .‘.book, and hid it on a rafter where it was found. He had known \Vat6on for four years as a frequenter of racecourses and a “ silver bettor,” or oijjie who betted in small sums. I Detective O’Conner gave corroborative evidence. {•Frank O’Connell, racecourse detective, identified AVatson as a bookmaker fijlio had not been allowed on courses fpr many years. , ~F. C. Cother, chief clerk to tho Jockey Club, 6aid that the scraping sheds were on the racecourse enclosure. i Mi - -Donnelly said that Watson was Spoor man, a fish hawker, and had tempted to earn paltry sums in small Ifets. He asked that the fine should be lenient, and tTiat the accused should not be sent to gaol. t “ Fined £25,” said the Magistrate, and allowed four weeks to pay the tfioney.” . ; James Duller was also charged that dp February 7 he had carried on bookijiaking at Riccarton racecourse. The tcused pleaded not guilty. He was fended by Mr M. Donnelly. , The evidence was almost the same as Li the previous case, except that tho isme was 4.15, and the race the Craven Plate. The location was the scraping sheds.

yvir Donnelly, for the defence, said that the accused denied the offence.

- Accused was fined £25, the same as the other man. and was given four weeks to find the money.