ALLEGED BOOKMAKING.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1922, Page 8

ALLEGED BOOKMAKING.

A NEW PLYMOUTH CASE. THE CHARGE AGAINST ALLEN. REFERRED TO SUPREME COURT. A charge of being a bookmaker was preferred against Herbert T. Allen in the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court yesterday. It was alleged that Allen made a bet in the White Hart Hotel on February I, with Paul 8. Edwards (a Wellington police constable), on the Egmont CupJ which was to be run on February 1. The charge was brought under section 2 of the Gaming Act, 1920. Mr. R. H. Quilliam appeared for accused, who pleaded not guilty and elected to be tried by jury. The business of taking the depositions was then proceeded with.

Detective-Sergeant Cooney, who conducted the case for the police, said in the first place the evidence would show that defendant was a reputed bookmaker. On February 1 two police constables from Wellington were in New Plymouth for the purpose o-f detecting illegal betting and on that date one of them, Constable Edwards, made a bet with Allen in the White Hart Hotel on a horse called Stork in the Egmont Cup, a race which was being run on that day at Hawera. The bet was witnessed, by the other constable. On February 11 a. race meeting was being held at New/ Plymouth by the Taranaki Jockey Club' and on the evening of that date a search warrant was executed by ’Senion-Ser-geant McCrorie, Constables Palmer and O’Donovan and the speaker. When accused was searched at his home he had his coat and waistcoat off. In his trouser pocket was found a roll of notes to the value of £53. There were also three betting slips which had a sum of money rolled in them. The slips gave the name of the horses, by whom the bets were made and the amount. In his coat pocket there were other betting slips showing that transactions were made in connection with races at Te Kuiti, Dunedin, and New Plymouth. THE POLICEMAN’S BET. Constable Paul 8. Edwards said that from instructions received at Wellington he and Constable Dawe came to New’ Plymouth on January 28. Their duty was to detect illegal betting. knew the defendant, the date on which he first saw Allen being January 30. It was at the Royal Hotel in the afternoon. He was having a drink with two men, one of whom passed two banknotes to the defendant Allen. He brought a notebook from his pocket in which he appeared to make an entry. On February 1 in company with Constable Dawe, witness was having a drink in the White Hart Hotel when the defendant Allen came in and approached two men, having a drink with them. He brought a race card from his pocket and gave it to one of the men, who handed it back to Allen together with some silver. Allen made another entry in a notebook. Just as witness was leaving he called the defendant outside and asked him how was it for ten shillings on Stork in the Egmont Cup. Allen said “right.” Witness gave him four half-crowns, he brought from his pocket a notebook in which he entered 10s S.T., E.D. He had told Allen his name was Edwards. Asked what the limit was Allen replied: Twenty pounds first, ten pounds second. Witness took this to mean that Allen would pay up to £2O on the totalisator, but not over that. Thomas C. Dawe, constable, of Wellington, who accompanied Constable Edwards in his investigations in New Plymouth, gave evidence in corroboration. Detective-Sergeant Cooney, giving evidence, said he had known defendant Alien for the past twelve months to be a reputed bookmaker. Mr. .Quilliam objected to this statement going in. The witness: Common talk. His Worship said he understood it had been allowed in other cases, Mr. Quilliam disagreed and pointed out that for instance in the case of a man charged with theft, it would not be permissible to say he was a reputed burglar. His Worship: Was it not admitted in Whitta’s case?

Mr. Quilliam: No, the principle in Whitta’s case was that if there is evidence of the previous carrying on of the business of a bookmaker it is admissible. That is against the ordinary rule. His Worship decided to admit the evidence and to make a note of counsel s objection.

VISIT TO ALLEN’S HOUSE. Proceeding, the detective gave evidence of the visit of the police to Alien’s house at 254 Courtenay Street. When they went in accused was sitting at the table in the kitchen. Witness took Allen to the front of tht? house and read the warrant to him. The witness proceeded to detail the result of the search of Allen and produced the slips found on defendant. At this stage Mr. Quilliam objected to the notes being described as betting slips. Mr. Quilliam submitted that the inference was one for the jury to draw. •‘1 would imagine,” said counsel, “that a policeman would know less than most people about -a bookmaker's transac-

ts Worship said this only touched on the value of the evidence. The detective pointed out that he had dealt with other bookmaking cases and handled their papers. His Worship decided to admit the evidence and to note counsel's objection. He thought a police officer was entitled to say what in his experience was indicated by certain papers. The witness proceeded to read the slips. The first one was as follows: 2s 6d Vespucci, P.M. Handicap; any furifls 2s 6d The Dunce, Nursery Handicap; 2s fid Snatcher, Nursery Handicap; 2s Gd Some’Fire, Urenui Handicap; 2s fid Rangiata, Urenui Handicap; 2s fid Birk wind, "urenui Handicap; 2s Gd Potoa King. Urenui Handicap; and funds 2s Gd Leithfield, Farewell Handicap: 2s fid Capping Day. Farewell Handicap; 5s Leithfield, Farewell Handicap; 2s Gd Ilipo, Farewell Handicap; 2s fid Inah. Farewell Handicap. Then on the margin of the slip there was written “Manure,” “Book,"’ “Bot.” Ln the slip there was a one-pound bank note and i two half crowns. The second slip~ related to horses running at Te Kuiti :uid Taranaki and was also endorsed “Manure” on the margin. A third slip had references to the Dunedin second day. and a fourth exhibit was an envelope which contained thirteen slips. The name on it was “George Red,” (or “Rell.”) On the slips in the envelope were written the names of various horses and amounts. The slips were signed in a variety of .ways, such as: “Flq/ ? “C. Street,” “C. Haskell,”

“F. Red,” “Joe K.,” “Jock,” “Boots,” “Carter,” and “Y.V.” FORMAL EVIDENCE. Leonard C. Harton, secretary to the Te Kuiti Racing Club, gave evidence that the club’s annual meeting was held on February 11, and he confirmed the fact that certain horses started in various events. Charles B. Webster, assistant in the secretarial work connected with the Taranaki Jockey Club’s meeting, gave evidence as to horses started at the recent meeting. There was a Paul Memorial Handicap. He could not say what the “P.M.” Handicap would mean. Constable R. J. Palmer, who assisted in the execution of the search warrant at Allen’s house gave evidence in corroboration of the case for the police. ‘ Constable. L. S. Parkinson said he hdd known the defendant for the past six years. In the course of duty witness had seen Allen about the street on week days at'all hours. He had always been well-dressed and as far as witness knew he had never done any work. As to how Allen got his living witness said defendant was a reputed bookmaker. At the request of Mr. -Quilliam, objection to the latter statement was again noted. This concluded the evidence and on being formally charged counsel intimated that defendant had nothing to say. He pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial at the next sessions of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth, commencing on Tuesday, May 16. Previous bail was renewed, accused in his own recognisance of £250, and cne surety of £250. Another charge against Allen of keeping a common gaming house was withdrawn by the police.