THE KINGSDALE CASE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 10106, 7 May 1924, Page 7

THE KINGSDALE CASE.

ACCUSED STAND TRIAL.

MANY WITNESSES HEARD

DUNEDIN, May 6.

The charges of conspiring to defraud preferred against John Richards and Walter Leonard James Cameron, the first of a series of alleged "ringing in" cases to be heard in the Dominion, was commenced to-day. There are some 20 witnesses to give evidence on behalf of the Crown, and the case is likely to last the whole of to-morrow. His Honour Mr Justice Reed intimated that this was a case in which it was wise for the jury to be kept together until the hearing of the ease was concluded. The jury were therefore locked up for the night at the end of the day's sitting.

The address of the Crown Prosecutor (Mr Adams) to the jury lasted over an hour.

Mr Adams said the case, briefly stated, was to the effect that a horse named The Dingo was raced at' the Gore' races under the name of Kingsdale. The first count in the indictment was. to the effect that the accused had conspired .together against the public and the Gore Racing Club, and it would be sufficient for a conviction if it was only shown- that an attempt had been made to defraud. The second count was in reference to conspiracy to obtain money from the club, and counsel emphasised that on these two counts both accused would have to be convicted together, as a conviction against either of the accused would be valueless. The third count had reference to the attempt made to obtain the sum of £95 from the club by false pretences. This was the value of the stake which had not been handed over. The fourth count was the charge of obtaining the sum of £IOB7 10s from Mr James, the tbtalisator proprietor, this sum having been taken off the machine as Kingsdale's dividend. As to the last two counts, the matter was left to the discretion of the jury to convict the accused on the facts, and either both or one of the accused could be convicted. Counsel emphasised that the charges were serious ones. He said that apparently ringing-in was not uncommon at the present time, and it was the duty of the law to see that while racing was allowed that tho.se who attended race meetings were not defrauded. Nothing could be meaner than to swindle those who went to race meetings', like so many djd to put their "bit" on horses, and he would like to emphasise that the £IOB7 10s collected at the Gore meeting off Kingsdale had come out,of'the pockets of the public. The question of the ethics of racing should not be allowed to enter into the matter at all. Evidence was given for the Crown to-day by Patrick McNeill, farmer, Lauriston; Johanna Fitzgerald, postmistress, Dunback; Francis Walter Allan, railway porter, Waitati; Henry Albert White, chemist, Dunedin; Harold Outram, chemist, Dunedin; Constable Connor, Waitati; Isaac McQueen, railway porter, Lander; Alfred George Austin, clerk in the railway goods office, Dunedin] Harry Logic James, secretary of the Duiiedin Jockey Club : John "Donald ■ Forbes, secretary of the Oamaru Trotting Club; Frank Young, secretary of the Gore Racing Club;' David .Brittain Cameron, farmer, Outram; Henry Thomas Trevenna, saddler. Dunedin; William Francis James, totalisator proprietor.