BET TAKEN AFTER RACE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1037, 30 July 1930, Page 16

BET TAKEN AFTER RACE

BOOKMAKER FOUND GUILTY BY JURY DEALINGS WITH CONSTABLE Press Association WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Three charges of carrying on business as a bookmaker in Welington were brought against Stanley William Findlay in the Supreme Court today before the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, and a jury. He was found guilty and was remanded until Friday for sentence. Mr. Macassey, Crown Prosecutor, said that the offences were alleged to have occurred on April 19, 21 and 26. Two police officers visited the Te Aro Hotel where one of them asked if he could place a bet. Accused was In a room adjoining the bar and came out. He took a bet of 10s on a horse at tho Tauherenikau races and also on other horses. Subsequently accused was arrested and a substantial amount of money, betting slips, race books v and account books were taken by the police. Constable Campion said he visited tho Te Aro Hotel on April 19 and entered the private bar, where he saw Findlay, and made a bet of 10s on Dainty Day at the Tauherenikau races. Subsequently he had other betting transactions with accused. To Mr. Leicester, who appeared for accused, witness said he went to the hotel for no other purpose than to get a bet on with accused. The bet on Dainty Day was made at 3.54 p-m. 19 MINUTES AFTER Mr. Leicester pointed out that that was 19 minutes after the race had started. Witness said he reckoned on the race taking place about four o’clock. He did not know the race had taken place at the time, and that he did not get a run for his money. On April 26 witness went to the hotel again, and on a signal from him Detective Murray and his officers followed. Accused Was arre’sted. Constable Lockic gave evidence of visiting the hotel and endeavouring to get a bet on with Findlay, who refused. saying he did not bet* with strangers. Detective Murray said he went to the hotel on April 26, where he saw accused, and arrested him on warrant. He had £42 in notes, and £1 11s 5d in change. A quantity of betting material was seized. Accused did not go into the witness box. SIGNATURE IN BOOK Mr. Leicester submitted that the Crown sought to prove that betting material found in the room belonged to accused because the writing on some of the papers corresponded with accused’s signature in the “property book” at the police station. Was it likely that a bookmaker would accept a bet 19 minutes after the race was run? If he did, he would be regarded as a very dishonest bookmaker. Counsel quoted the Oxford dictionary as to the meaning of betting, which was to the effect that it was a wager on an uncertain event. In regard to tho bet on Dainty Day, he urged that the race had taken place, so that it was not a wager on something uncertain. In regard to other bets, there was little corroboration. No part of the material was found actually in the possession of accused, and tho use of the room was open to other people in the hotel. His Honour briefly summed up, and tho jury, after an absence of-about 40* minutes, found accused guilty. •s Findlay was remanded until Friday /' sentence. !