A GAME OF POKER.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1920, Page 2

A GAME OF POKER.

"HAWKS AND PIGEONS.' GAMBLING ON THE TRAIN. As the result of playing "poker" on the mail train between Hawera and W&nganui oh Thursday, six menGeorge Eossiter, Reuben Ashford, George L. White, Walter Mnllins, Thomas McQuillan, and William Cormick -came before Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M.; at, the Magistrate's Court at Wunganui on Friday. . When arrested three of the defendants had over £2O in their possession, and one had only 3d. White, Mullins and McQuillan wire charged with being rogues and vagabonds and playing a game of chunce on tho train. 1 Sergeant Bourke said he cor.fidered tV.c three were travelling for the purpose of gambling and to see who they could, take down. Francis O'Connor, guard on the New Plymouth mail train on Thursday, said he was given to understand there wore some shrewd men on the train an the look out for men with money, and no sense He arranged with another wan to board the second smoker at Ball Road. When witness came into Ihe carriage the game was stopped. When witness accused four of the men, two of. them, gave fictitious names. McQuillan threw the cards out of the window. To Mr Slipper: To the best of his belief he had seen the three accused on the train before. He did not isee any money changed on the present occasion. "By Sergeant Bourke: There had beau complaints during the last fortnight of gambling on the train, and a railway detective was put on this section. There was also complaint of bags missing William C. Robson, railway ° clerk said he went into the second-class smoking car at Ball Road. He saw the accused playing poker and they wanted him to play. McQuillan asked if anybody elsff wanted to join in. A good amount of silver was passed. Constable Fitzgibbon said he joined the express at Waverly as tho result of a telephone message received. He did not see any cards when he reached the carriage. White gave his name as "Wright," and McQuillan gave the name of "Manson," although the latter gave his correct name. Accused admitted they had been playing poker. Constable McMullan'said that lie went to Aramoho and assisted Constable Pitzgibbon to bring the six men to the police station. White and McQuillan each had nearly £2O on them when searched. Accused said they had been to the races at Christchurch.

Mr Slipper pleaded pilty on the part of the three accused. Thore was- nothing to show they were imposing on anybody. His Worship: Except that when arrested they had practically all the money. Mr Slipper considered there was nothing in the evidence to connect the accused with trying to "take the others down." There wasi no evidence of "hawks" and pigeons." White was a married man with four children. Sergeant Bourke said White was fined £2O at Hastings recently for trespassing on a racecourse and was evidently an undesirable. Up to Tecently Mullins was not allowed to go on a racecourse. He did not know anything about the other man.

I His Worship said -he was of the (.pinion that White and McQuillan had apparently no fixed occupation and were of an undesirable class who lived by gambling. They were apparently wanderers on the face of the earth. White and McQuillan were each fined £lO and Mullins £2. The three "pigeons," Rossiter, Ashford and Cormick were charged with gambling on the train and pleaded guilty. Ashford said he had four hands' of poker and then he "slung it up." He had had enough, so he "pulled out." Each defendant wag fined £1 and costs.