>From The Canberra Times, 21 January 1936 - GAMES IN HOTELS IMPORTANT CASE IN SYDNEY No Fine Imposed SYDNEY, Monday. An important case of interest to hotel keepers was heard by the Chief Licensing Magistrate (Mr. Laidlaw) to-day, when the police proceeded against Ellen Ahearn, the licensee of Surrey Hotel, Castlereagh Street, on information alleging that she permitted gaming on the premises. The defendant through her counsel pleaded guilty. Evidence was given that a number of men were playing on a pin machine in the hotel for pennies and shillings, the winner buying the drinks. The Police Prosecutor said that the proceedings were in the nature of a warning. Mr. Laidlaw: I take it that if there was no gambling on the machine it would not be illegal. The Magistrate dismissed the case and ordered the defendant to pay costs. ------------------------------------------------ Historic Australian Newspapers, 1803 to 1954 http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper Aherns in Australian Records http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~aherns/ahcrim.htm ------------------------------------------------