“TWO MONTHS’ HARD."

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10, 2 May 1914, Page 8

“TWO MONTHS’ HARD."

FOR BETTING AT ELLERSLIE. [Per Press Association.] Auckland, May 1. Joseph Pointon was charged at the Police Court this morning that, being a bookmaker, lie made bets at Eilerslit racecourse /m Easter Monday. .Detectives Ward and Torrance gave evidence that Pointon kept one position between 12.15 p.m. and 2.40 p.m., while they at the same time kept a watch on him from the grandstand a hundred yardaway. In that time they saw eighteen people go up to Pointon, hands appearing to meet each Pointon put one hand in, his pocket, and then made a notp on a piece of paper. Witnesses then ,went up to Pointon, and Detective Ward took his race-book and asked him to go with him to the stewards’ room. rOn the way he dropped an envelope and a card giving the horses and weights of some Christchurch races. There were no significant notes on the race-book, but on the envelope were notes of betting transactions on races that day, accompanied by initials. When arrested next day, Detective Ward said, Pointon remarked, “You follows would hang r. man, but I will be a bookmaker all my life.”

Mr Singer, for defendant, submitted that the actions noted might have beer those of a member of the public, who was in company with friends at the races and was sharing bets on the totalisator with them. Mr Fraser, S.M., decided that unless the defendant went into the box and gave a satisfactory explanation of the actions noted, there must be a conviction. Mr Singer intimated that he would not put his client in the box, and his Worship stated that a conviction must be recorded. Defendant’s record showed that he had been three times pre viously convicted for betting. On tin present charge he was sentenced to two months’ hard labor.