MORRINSVILLE BOOKMAKER.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 320, 24 December 1929, Page 4

MORRINSVILLE BOOKMAKER.

FINED £IOO. ji . The Maximum Fine. A The maximum fine of £IOO was invposed on Stephen Joseph Bain, who was charged before Mr. Wyvem Wilson, S.M., in the Morrinsville Police Court on Thursday with using bin billiard saloon in Thames street* Morrinsville, as a common gaming house.

Constable Heeps said that that morning he had raided Bain’s premises and taken away a quantity of books and other gaming material which he had not yet had time to examine. Bain was the proprietor of a billiard saloon, adjoining which there was an office with a telephone. It was marked “ private.” The constable said it was common knowledge in Morrinsville that Bain was a’ bookmaker and in a fairly big way. The Magistrate: Let me see 4iis books.

Constable Heeps handed up numerous books and papers for the Magia- ; trate’s inspection. He said some of the bets entered on the papers concerned the Egmont races on Wednesday. There was also a set of Tattersail’s tickets and some double charts. All the exhibits were concerned witb betting in some form or another. The Magistrate: Is that all you want to show me? t , Constable Heeps: Yes. He had flfc about £l7 in money on him when ” arrested.

The constable explained that about 18 mbnths ago accused sold his tobacconist’s business and retained the billiard saloon, which he had used for gaming purposes. Asked by the Magistrate .if he had aftything to say, Bain said: “ I am only in a small way. It is only within the last 15 months that I have been in this business.”

The Magistrate: I don’t believe him. I don’t think he is in a small way. He is fined the maximum, £IOO, in default two months. When Bain was asked if he wished time in which to pay the fine, the Magistrate remarked that if Bain desired time he (the Magistrate) would have to hear evidence as to his financial condition. He had noticed that Bain’s bank book was not made up-to-date, but the last entry showed a substantial credit. The defendant expressed no wish for time to pay in.