A YOUTHFUL GAMBLER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1611, 16 September 1916, Page 4

A YOUTHFUL GAMBLER.

COMMENTS OF MAGISTRATE.

A v<»nth, aged 18 years, admitted to Mr F. V. Fra/.er, S.M., in the Auckland Police Court that, being a bookmaker, he had made a bet in Victoria Street.

Chief-Detective McMahon stated that the young man had been working at decent employment, but at the same lime had been belling. He belonged to the territorials, and had been betting extensively among them and leaching them to bet. He was also ralher a self-willed young fellow, and had been most disobedient. His'parents had given him good advice, which, if he had followed it, would have saved him from this trouble. The chief detective, in. asking for the minimum penally to be imposed, said the young fellow reipiired restraint, and he.'thought the minimum line woidd be sufficiently large to cause him to remember flic episode and check any lullin' escapades of the same nature. Incidentally, tin* chief deleelive mentioned lhal Ihe defendanl was an invelerale visitor lo billiardvooms. In reply lo 1 Ik* magistrate (he defendant staled that lie had been helling for about six (o nine months, and (hat lie was nol connected with any other of the betting fraternity. His uncle, since deceased, had langill him how to bet. His Worship, addressing Ihe defendant, said be was only a boy, and lhal liis offence might be only due lo ignorance of the seriousness of it. His Worship believed that “as many wen) lo the devil (lirough gimbling as through drink.” He,

would tie lined (lie minimum, £2O, and costs 7s, amt would he allowed to pay ,C 8 down and the balance in instalments of 5s per week. While tin* money was being paid off he would be placed under I lie supervision of (lie probation officer, Hie Rev. F. R. Jeffreys. He would also be -required lo abstain from frequenting race meetings and billiard saloons, and would not he allowed mil after dark unless accompanied by an older relative or with special permission from (lie probation officer.