BOOKMAKER FINED

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2665, 29 November 1923, Page 3

BOOKMAKER FINED

PUNTING DEFENDANT FINED £3O. Christchurch, Last Night In the Magistrate’s Court to-day Percy Ross was charged on three counts with having entered into bets with a constable on the result of races at Riccarton and Addington. Air C. S. Thomas appeared for accused. Chief-Detective Cameron said defendant was a barman. A constable had gone to him and made bets, under instruction. “Almost every time T pick up a newspaper,” said the Alagistrate, Afr Wyvern Wilson, “I see something about what the bookmakers are doing. Tf sporting writers can obtain this information, surely the police can.” Air Thomas said Ross had been tempted to take on bookmaking, but lie was not shrewd enough. He had taken bets with people who were absolute strangers to him. It was the first offence that- Rnss bad committed.

The Alagistrate said it was a difficult tiling to know what to do with the bookmaker. Book-making had led to ln.zino.ss and impurity in racing sport, and thus it had been declared illegal. It was sought that tho money should be put on a machine which could not get at riders or dope horses. “Tt is quite notorious,” said the Alagistrate, “that there, is a large amount of hefting on races nfhenvise than through the toialisator, and it seems to receive public countenance. Tf seems to he a matter of common knowledge and nobody seems to think it should stop. Very few iff the eases in Court are directed towards the suppression of the bookmaker. When a man is brought up on such an infrequent charge and it is his first offence, T do not think it is a case !‘m imprisonment. Defendant is fined £lO on each of flic three charges, and this amount will he pay able at the rale of £2 10./- a week."