DEFRAUDING THE PUBLIC

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1926, Page 15

DEFRAUDING THE PUBLIC

SO-CALLED GAME OF ‘PEG LA’ A DEMONSTRATION DECLINED, TWO HEAVY FINES INFLICTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night, A charge of playing a game of chance known as “peg la,” at the Royal Show, was preferred against Thomas Albert Durran, and his son, Thomas Francis Durran, in the Police Court to-day. Chief-detective Cummings described the game and said that two shillings were . awarded if a player rung one of the front pegs, 4s for the pegs in the second row, and 10s for the pegs in the rear row. The pegs were placed at an angle away from the player and it was a physical impossibility for any person to place a ring pver the pegs. The pegs were not quire firm on the table and this made the game much more difficult. Detective Cummings said that he had watched a number of people playing at the game for twenty minutes, and not one got a ring over the pegs. He told defendants it was a game of chance and not one of skill. Defendant declined to give a demonstration in support of his contention that it was a game of skill. He told witness that the game had been played all over New Zealand and that witness would only hold himself up to ridicule if he took any action. “He also showed me a roll of notes, r containing several fivers, and said he was going to fight the case,” said Detective Cummings. “I told him he would get some good legal advice for that.”

Senior-detective Hammond said he had warned defendants to stop the game as it was too strong for the publie. Witness saw boys and girls playing and defendants taking their money. 'Mr. Sullivan, who appeared for the defendant, suggested that a demonstra tion should be given in the court-room, but after the detectives had made elaborate preparations the elder defendant flatly declined to give a demonstration on the ground that the table was not the exact size or height. He said ho had sold his own table yesterday, and wanted a three weeks’ adjournment. Mr. Sullivan then thanked the magistrate for consenting to witness the demonstration, but said that unfortunately he had a client who would not take his advice.

“Defendant now says, Your Worship, that Constable Hadler, of New Plymouth, can ring six out of every nine pegs, and he desires to get an adjournment so that he can call him to give evidence,” said Mr, Sullivan. “So good was Constable Hadler at the game that he had to be barred from playing it.”

Counsel mentioned that there were two other police officers in New Plymouth who could say that the pegs could bo covered with the ring. The magistrate (Mr. F. K. Hunt); I’ll assume that three men can come here and say that, but against that Chief-Detective Cummings and other witnesses have stated that it is an unfair game to the public and that it is a physical impossibility to place the rings on the pegs. I will not grant three weeks’ adjournment, but I will hear the application later when the defence is Opened. Acting-Detective Packman, Detective Nalder and Constable Carroll then gave evidence, all stating they saw numbers of persons playing the game and not one player succeeded in ringing a peg.

Mr. Sullivan then said that a surprise had been sprung on him. His clients now stated that they could secure well-known local men who had won money playing the game, one man winning £-2 and another £1 10s. He therefore asked for an adjournment as such evidence was important, in view of the police witnesses stating that it was a physical impossibilty to play the game wth skill. Chief-Detective Cummings: I object to another adjournment, The case was adjourned yesterday until this morning, and if the defendant misleads or misinforms his counsel he will have to take rhe responsibility. In imposing a fine of £25 on each <4 the defendants and ordering the confiscation of their material, the magistrate said the game was a most improper one. It defrauded the public, who had no earthly chance of winning.