OTOROHANGA GAMBLERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 132, 25 August 1927, Page 13

OTOROHANGA GAMBLERS

CONVICTION AND FINES When Joseph Germain and Edward. Niko Rogers laid bets, doubles and trebles with the quiet stranger to Otorohanga, they little thought that he was in reality Constable A. M. Sutherland, of Auckland, detailed to do special duty in that King Country township. To-day they are sadder and wiser men, for their little flutters have cost them £SO and £25 respectively. Germain was charged before Mr. R. Court yesterday afternoon with using court yesterday afternoon with using his billiard room and hairdressing saloon as a common gaming house, "ith knowingly permitting the premise* to be used as a common gaming house by E. N. Rogers, and with publishing a treble chart on the Winter ( up, the Grand National Hurdle Race nnd the Grand National Steeplechase the Christchurch races on August ; aR d 11. Rogers was charged with assisting Germain, and with publishing a double chart on the Grand -National Hurdles and the Grand National Steeplechase. The defendants both pleaded not guilty. Senior-Sergeant Sweeney, of Hamilton, then withdrew the third charge against Germain and the second charge against Rogers. Constable Sutherland related how he Had visited the saloon over a period ° ays * He opened the conversation by asking: “How is Beau La> ?l ier in the doubles?'* He had taken i£7 for 2s 6d double on Beau ; avalier and Bonena. a £l5O to 5s on Maunga, Wharncliffe and wnenuanui, and had also backed Maunga in the Steeples and Whenuanui in the Cup for 5s each. When asked his initials he had replied A.M. He had inquired the limit paid, and nad been told £7 10s and £2 10s. •curing the days he spent in the saloon had seen notebooks frequently produced by both the defendants, entries ” ade an d money change hands. Rogers ‘nd Germain had shown charts and uay cards. c . ounsel accused then altered n t} r pleas to one of guilty. • _ f 4 */ Watson, in delivering judgient. pointed out that the police had 5n >? ltted Ge rmain had only been »«i? USlness * n town for some weeks ras not one of the big men. He f' erma i n and fined him £SO. : three months’ imprisonment ail . c kland gaol. A month was in wllich to Pay. Rogers was ned £25, in default two months’ imp ‘sonment. A month to pay was owed. Costs of 10s in each case wer * imposed.