LAYING DOUBLES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1007, 25 June 1930, Page 12

LAYING DOUBLES

£25 FINE FOR STREET LOITERER NUISANCE IN HOTELS Said by Chief-Detective Hammond, in the Police Court this morning, to have been loitering about Symonds Street laying doubles for six months, Charles Harold Watson was fined £25. He promised, through Mr. Sullivan, to give up the betting business immediately. Watson. a labourer, aged 32, pleaded guilty through counsel to frequenting Symonds Street on June 20 for the purpose of betting. A charge of carrying on the business of a bookmaker was withdrawn. The chief-detective said AA'atson had been operating in Upper Symonds Street, between the two hotels there. Although only in a small way, he had done no other work for six months. He laid doubles of £lO for 4s, and was operating at the trots on Saturday. AVatson had made such a nuisance of himself that he had been put out of both hotels. Mr. Sullivan said AVatson was a hard-working man. who, for a certain reason that could not be disclosed, had been out of work, and could not return until the expiration of a certain period. It was his first appearance before the court. He would give up the business immediately, and he was only in a small way, as the chiefdetective had said. AA'atson was fined £25. “Can you give him a month to pay?” asked counsel. Mr. P. K. Hunt, S.M.: A week is all I will give. Counsel: Accused will have to take out the default, then. Can you not give two weeks, and help the Consolidated Fund? The Government needs the money. AVatson was given two weeks to pay.