GAMING CHARGES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 November 1939, Page 4

GAMING CHARGES

MASTERTON BUSINESS MEN FINED PLEAS OF GUILTY ENTERED. “TOO MANY BOOKMAKERS IN MASTERTON.” Two prosecutions under the Gaming Act were heard this morning in the Masterton Magistrate’s Court before Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M. Detective-Ser-geant Kane said there were far too many bookmakers in Masterton and that they were parasites on the community. He intended to do all he could to suppress them. Patrick Francis Ryan, on a charge of being the occupier of premises known as the Kuripuni Butchery, which he used as a common gaming house was fined £2O, and 10s costs. Ryan, who was represented by Mr T. Jordan pleaded guilty. Detective-Sergeant W. Kane, who conducted the police case stated that Ryan had been perfectly frank, and admitted the charge. He stated that he was only an agent for an associate in a large way. and had taken bets to oblige customers. To his knowledge Ryan was in a small way of business. Mr T. Jordan, counsel for defendant stated that Ryan was a good citizen, and a man of good character. He had been tempted by his customers to take bets. Defendant was ordered to pay half the fine this week, and the balance before the end of the year. George Robert Deane, a grocer, represented by Mr J. MacFarlane Laing, on a similar charge in respect to defendant’s grocery premises was fined £4O and costs. Defendant pleaded guilty.

Detectivef Sergeant Kane stated that Deane had not been helpful or frank in connection with the case. Having failed to find after an intensive search ordinary betting material, apart from a Bookmakers Association card, the police were led to believe by the circumstances that Deane had been forewarned of the visit of the police. The phone had been particularly busy while the police were present, having rung 20 times in fifteen minutes, and it could be assumed that defendant was in a big way of business. The radio had been tuned into Christchurch. where the races were being run. The phone had stopped ringing while the races were being run. The suggestion that Deane was in a big way was strenuously denied by counsel for defendant who stated that Deane was not an agent—and was acting entirely on his own account. No betting material had been found on the premises, which had been subjected to a thorough search for 2£ hours. An unfortunate co-incidence was that the next phone number to Deane’s was also a grocer’s and Deane frequently received wrong calls. He was a man of excellent character, added Mr Laing. Detective-Sergeant Kane said it appeared that defendant had been informed of the projected visit of the police because when they got there he was dressed in his best suit and had nothing but an empty wallet in his pocket. As to another grocer having the next telephone number, the other man must have been called George too, as the telephone callers used that name. Detective-Sergeant Kane said bookmakers were parasites on the community. He had received complaints from womenfolk about money spent with bookmakers, which should have been spent otherwise. He added that there were far too many bookmakers in Masterton. and as far as he was concerned he intended to do his best to suppress them. It was a well-known fact that there was more money spent in bookmaking in Masterton than was spent for legitimate purposes. Mr Laing said defendant denied that he had any knowledge of the police visit. Mr Lawry stated that the fact that the phone rang 20 times in 15 minutes was an indication of the size of the business being conducted by defendant. The fact that defendant had not assisted the police would be held against him. Defendant was ordered to pay £lO this week and the balance before the end of the year. CASE AT MARTINBOROUGH. DEFENDANT FINED £5O. Al the Martinborough Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon. William Attwood, on a charge of using his tobacconist premises, Jellicoe Street. Martinborough, as a common gaming house, was fined £5O and costs. Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M.. presided. Defendant. pleaded guilty. Detective-Sergeant Kane said he and Constable Reardon visited defendant’s premises on November 8, and from evidence found on the premises the defendant had taken about £3O in bets up to 2.30 p.m.. when the visit was paid by the police.