Police Raid on Billiard Saloon

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 178, 18 October 1927, Page 9

Police Raid on Billiard Saloon

ROTORUA PROSECUTIONS GAMING HOUSE CHARGE (From Our Own Correspondent) ROTORUA, Monday. As a sequel to a visit to a billiard saloon in Moore’s Building, Tutanekai Street, a Maori, Hori Mau, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court to-day before Mr. W. G. K. Kenrick, S.M., charged with keeping a common gaming house. Geoffrey Rogers was charged with assisting Mau. Detective Sweeney prosecuted. Mr. Roe, who appeared for Mau, pleaded guilty, and Mr. Carter, for Rogers, pleaded not guilty. It was decided to hear the evidence in the two cases at once. Constable Johnson stated that on October 8, at 11 a.m., he went, in company with three other police officers, to Moore’s Building. He took a seat beside the telephone. Shortly after 11 o’clock a man asked, over the. telephone, to ente.r a bet. Again, at 11.40 a.m., another voice asked how business was progressing. Still another message came asking for £lO to be put on a certain horse. Mau was searched and over £27 was found in his possession. Senior-Sergeant Cooper said he went into the billiard saloon with a constable while the detective went into the smaller room with Mau. He found Rogers there and saw the .result of the search of Mau’s person. A note book, containing entries of doubles, and charts and other stationery were found, also two cards having numbers and names which appeared to be a code. Constable Watters said he went into the billiard room with the sergeant, and he noticed that when the telephone rang in Mau’s room an extension bell rang in the billiard saloon. Detective Sweeney also gave corroborative evidence. The case was adjourned until to-morrow. ACCUSED CONVICTED STIFF FINE INFLICTED ROTORUA, To-day. At the hearing to-day Mau pleaded guilty, and was convicted and nned £4O and cents. Geoffrey Rogers, charged with assisting Mau, was found not guilty and discharged.