Tote A La Femme? Laid the Odds Right Under Grand-stand

NZ Truth, Issue 1148, 1 December 1927, Page 9

Tote ALa Femme? Laid the Odds Right Under Grand-stand

'NEATH GRANDSTAND

REALLY IMPERTINENT

TN a crowded courtroom, Hilda Jane Wigg and Mary Smith pleaded guilty before Magistrate McKean. A feature of their appearance was* the fact that a few moments after ' their apprehension at the Otahuhu ■! trotting meeting at Alexandra Park, -Epsom, on NovembW 19, a. justice of the peace who was on the course was commissioned to dear with the offenders m a small room on the grounds.

The charges were formally laid by Chief Detective Cummings, who was also present on tflte course, and the women were remanded on bail of £25 each until the 1 following Monday.

The motive of this extraordinary procedure was attributed to the fact that no police constable on thejrace grounds was available for escort duty.

Detectives observed the women operating beneath the grand-

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Speolal Auckland Representativa) y UARDLY had the doors of the Auckland Polide Court closed on 11 "the exit of the pioneer—so far as the police 'are concerned-^of female bookmakers m Auckland, when two more disciples of the turf were seen m the dock m answer to charges of bookmaking.

the more prosperous of the two m appearance, wjas m possession of a number of slips and records of. numerous bets ranging from 5/- to £1. , "At one stage," stated the chief detective, "there was a crowd of about 300 people gathered m the vioinity of the two women. We have no evidence to prove it, but, the woman Smith may be associated with male bookies m a big way." Wigg had made an excuse to the police accounting for her offence by the fact that she knew of another woman who had been m poor circumstances, but after a period at the "game" was able to appear m a fur coat and "other flash apparel." On one race alone, further informed the detective, there, was a.

record of 30 bets having been taken. "Smith is a divorced woman carrying on business as a dressmaker., Wigg is a married woman. and I have no reason to doubt that this was her first attempt." ... - 1 "I was taking money, fpr the other woman— not bookmaking," said Wigg, when asked if she had anything to say. ' ' 'Chief Deteotive : "She had plenty ot silver m her pocket when arrested." v "If I thought Smith were a real agent carrying on m a large scale, I should impose a heavy fine,'* declared, the benoh. To Chief Deteotive Cummings; "You think Smith has been carrying on an extensive betting business?'V-r"Yes, sir^"

of them to conduct their Business beneath the grandstand." As the fine of £25 imposed m a previous case had not, apparently, acted as a deterrent, his worship increased the penalty to £40, m default two months, m the case ( of Smith, and Wigg, ' 'being evidently a beginner," was fined £10 or seven days. ' ' How much ? ' ' inquired Smith, when asked if she oould find the money. The amount of the fine was repeated by the S.M.

"Oh— er," exclaimed the woman, bringing her hand to ; her head as though perplexed, "you have no hope of get- , ting, anything}" The chief detective pointed out that a sum of money was already m the hands of the police and that the balance would undoubtedly be forthcoming. The pair left the court with seven days' grace m which to ftyoid Mt. E^n g&OV