BOOK-MAKING ALLEGED.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1921, Page 5

BOOK-MAKING ALLEGED.

CASE AT CHRTSTOHURCH. A BIG BUSINESS ALLEGED. TRIAL OF W. V. WHITTA. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. William Vivian WTiitta appeared before Mr. Justice Herdman in ttye Supreme Court to-day on four charges of bookmaking. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was represented by Mr. S. Solomon, K.C., with him |fr. C. S. Thomas. The prosecution was conducted by Mr. A. T. Donnelly. In outlining the case, Mr. Donnelly said it was extraordinary in that it did not prove that Whitta himself made bets, but it would prove he was the proprietor and owner of a carefully and skilfully devised method of bookmaking, which rested largely for its success on the"great public the Dominion postal, telegraphic, and telephonic services. This business was organised on the lines of a large commercial concern. Mr. Solomon said that a serious question arose aa to the admissibility of certain evidence of facts which took place before the coming into operation of the Act, and he thought that in fairness to the Crown, as well as to the accused, it might be well to ask the jury to retire. His Honor said that he would discuss the matter with counsel in his room. Addressing the jury he added that there were certain facts which the Crown proposed to prove, but it would first be necessary to decide whether they were admissable. When the Court resumed, Mr. Donnelly proceeded with his address. He detailed evidence which it waa proposed to call, and remarked that considering the banking accounts of his billiard rooms and the accused’s connection with his son’s shop in Cathedral Square, the conclusion was that accused was carrying on a big bookmaking business. If he wag not, by what business could accused be so circumstanced? John Stephen Barrett, solicitor, said he remembered the civil case Dr. O’Brien v. Whitta on September 13, 1919. He was counsel for O’Brien. Witness asked accused then:. “What is your real occupation.” He replied: “I am a bookmaker.” Tn answer to further questions he said that his income derived from bookmaking was from £3OOO to £4OOO a year. Evidence as to happenings in a tobacconist shop kept by accused’s eon and billiard saloons alleged to be owned by accused was giv4n by various witnesses; also as to the ownership of telephones and postal boxes. Mr. Solomon, addressing the jury, said the police had used all the means at their disposal, even going into the privacy of accused’s home, and yet not one direct fact could be placed before the Court to styow that he was engaged in bookmaking. Hig Honor will sum up to-morrow.