GAMING CHARGES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 November 1940, Page 3

GAMING CHARGES

PROSECUTIONS IN PALMERSTON NORTH. EVIDENCE OF EXTENSIVE BUSINESS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., November 26. Breaches of the Gaming Act were admitted by six men and one woman who appeared in the Magistrates’ Court today. Dario la Chetto Giorgi and Harry M. Essex were charged with carrying on the business of bookmaking, and Ada Beatrice Giorgi was charged with assisting them. Detective-Sergeant Meiklejohn said Giorgi and Essex pooled their businesses, in addition to buying out in July the business of a third man named Williams. As, a result they conducted one of the largest bookmaking establishments in the city. They had five telephones, and up to 4 p.m. on November 23, business for the day amounted to £742 13s. on the first day of the Wellington meeting. They took £1633 16s. for the first day at Christchurch, and cup takings were £2384 18s. It was astounding that such a large amount of money went through one office. Giorgi and Essex were fined £l5O. and Mrs. Giorgi £25. Jack Vickerstaff proprietor of a billiard saloon, was fined £lOO for bookmaking. The other three accused were John Francis Hickey. George Herbert Manuel and Henry Barnett Scott, all barmen. Hickey was fined £2O for having carried on bookmaking for quite a long lime, and the other two were fined £l5 each. All acted as agents. Mr. Meiklejohn said it might be necessary to bring hotel licensees before the Court also if it was found that they allowed bar betting to be carried on in their premises.