HEAVY FINES

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20738, 23 February 1939, Page 8

HEAVY FINES

GAMING PROSECUTIONS BOOKMAKERS BEFORE COURT HAMILTON DETECTIVES’ RAIDS As a result of raids carried out by Hamilton detectives on premises in Victoria Street, last Monday, three men. two described by the police as bookmakers and one referred to as a bookmaker’s assistant appeared before Mr ?. L. Paterson, S.M.. in the Magistrate’s Court. Hamilton. to-day charged with using premises in the main street as coming gamt*+fiouses. The accused were Christopher Howe Nicholson. Percy Raymond Allport (both represented by Mr N. >. Johnson . and Byron Joseph Baumberg. The charge against Allport was that of assisting Nicholson in running the premises. Each of the accused pleaded guilty. Gambling MachlntO Seized Detective-Sergeant J. Thompson, who appeared for the police, stated that, as a result of information received by the police to the effect that several gambling devices, known as “ fruit machines, were being operated in Hamilton, two search warrants had been executed on Monday. Detectives A. J. White‘and J. Hayes visited the office occupied by Nicholson and had there found two of the machines. These were definitely unlawful and their presence constituted the premises as a common gaminghouse. Nicholson, said Mr Thompson, was a bookmaker and the detectives had also found Jn hts office books showing fairly extensive betting and a number of double charts used In conjunction with the books. Nicholson had been in Hamilton about two and a-half years. In January, 1936, he was convicted in the Hamilton Court of carrying on the business of a bookmaker and was fined £lO, while he was convicted on a similar charge in June that year. From a study of the books, it appeared that Nicholson’s business had increased since. Caught Taking a Bet Regarding Allport, Mr Thompson said he was actively engaged in the office when the raid was made and was actually taking a bet at the time the detectives entered. He apparently did not recognise them as detectives. For Mr Nicholson, Mr Johnson said there -was nothing which could be said in extenuation, though it was generally known that the machines seized were in common use throughout the country. They were also to be found in American liners calling at Auckland, and aboard these ships passengers could be seen lined up in queues awaiting their turn to gamble. Allport, said Mr Johnson, was only an employee, working for wages. “ You are getting into bad company, Allport,” remarked Mr Paterson. Doubles on Waikato Meeting Prosecuting Baumberg. Mr Thompson said he had searched that defendant’s premises himself, under a search warrant. and found one “ fruit maehine ” there. Baumberg was a bookmaker and his office was fitted up sojely for that purpose. Documents seized on Monday showed that on the first day of the Te Rapa summer meeting Baumberg took 64 doubles, while he took 30 doubles on the Monday, when the raid was made. No books were found, only double charts and papers relating to them. Baumberg. said Mr Thompson, had been in Hamilton about 18 months; before that he h a d lived elsewhere and visited Hamilton at intervals. He was before the court in Hamilton In January, 193€, and then pleaded guilty to carrying on the business of a bookmaker. He was then fined £5. He, too, seemed to have extended his business considerably since. Destruction of Machines Formal application was also made made by Mr Thompson for an order for the immediate destruction of the machines seized, the application being made under Section 7 of the Gaming Act. An order was made accordingly by Mr Paterson, who fined Nicholson £IOO and costs, Baumberg £25 and costs and Allport £5 and costs.