ALLEGED RINGING-IN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 95, 21 April 1923, Page 14

ALLEGED RINGING-IN.

TWO PERSONS CHARGED. WAS DORA DERBY "TRAYLACE". j (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DI'NEDIN, this day. Archibald Campbell Sim and James Proctor Nicholson were charged at the Police Court to-day with having, at Brydone, on February 1. conspired to defraud the Tapanui* Racing Club. by entering the trotting man- Dora Derby in the Dominion Handicap at Tapanui racing meeting as "Traylaee." There was a second charge as to obtaining £ol in th ( . same connection liv false pretences. John Bellamy Norris. secretary of tlie New Zealand Trotting Association. Christchurch, s aid he rece.ved an application from Davis for registration of the trotting mare "Traylaee." The .mare was duly registered, everything being in order. At an inquiry Nicholson made a statement that Sim had toid him that the ma.-c was placed where no human hands could touch it. He also stated that a person in Core" had said that Sim had stated that h 0 could find the mare at any time. Nicholson stated that ho had copied the letter submitted to him by Sim iv which it was said that the horse had broken its leg. This letter Nicholson had signed in his own name and sent it to Mr. Black. Nicholson admitted that lie had made a great mistake in doing this. He said that after his farm (which *the Sim brothers had been working) fell back into Tlis hands, Archie Sim remained on and worked for him. It was afterwaids he told Sim he was goinp to ring the mare in. He was to split the mare's ear and get the tail docked. Nicholson saw the result of. these operations. He said that the mare was trucked by ('rant to Brydone. Nicholson put £2 on Traylaee at Tapanui, including 10/ for others, with a person he thought war, a bookmaker in Core. Nicholson was summoned to attend the inquiry. Sim was also summoned to appear, but he did not turn up. Alfred Jones (Wilton) said he knew Dora Derby's, performances. He had experience in handicapping. If Dora Derby had to be h.-yidieapped for the Dominion Handicap he would have handicapped her at 3.35,( that was 15 seconds behind "Traylaee.'' That wo,;._r 'be ISO yards. Witness went on to give the results of a number of events in which Dora Derby had run. "Traylaee" had been handicapped as a maiden. Witness saw "Traylaee'' win at Tapanui by several lengths. He could not say that it was under pressure. She did not look as if she had the race won until the finish. Detective Beer said that on January 22 he interviewed Sim regarding the running of "Traylaee" at Tapanui in February, 1822. He made a statement, a summary of which was that he ant Nicholson had seen Dora Derby running, and decided to buy her. Nicholson'knew Black, and it was agreed that an introduction should take place. The mare was bought for £240. Nicholson financing the transaction. The mare was take** to his brother's farm. She had been described a? a maiden, and was nominated as "Traylaee" at Tapanui. She had won and paid about £4. Ho rode her himself. Suspicion became strong as to the identity of the mare, and it was decided to get rid of her, and that was done. Witness also read a statement made by Nicholson as to the part he had taken in the transaction. He was not too keen, but he consented to go to Forbury in connection with the purchase of the mare. He did not want to ia'.ce any part in the underhand work Sm was engaged in. Mr. Bundle. S.M.. said be was not poing to criticise the matter in detail. The fact was that the mare bad been nominated in the name of the accused for a number of races, but that did not necessarily show that Nicholson was. connected with it. He did not intend to say there was a prima facie case made out. The accused reserved their defence, and were committed for trial, bail being allowed.