TELEGRAPHED BETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 242, 12 October 1929, Page 12

TELEGRAPHED BETS.

CONSPIRACY ALLEGED. BOOKMAKER DEFRAUDED? CrISBOBNE PROSECUTION. EVIDENCE AGAINST TELEGRAPHIST ". (By Telegraph. —Special to "Star.") j GISBOKNE, this day. Interest'in the allegations of conspiracy by a Gisborne business man and two telegraphists to defraud a Napier bookmaker by means of back-timed tel«giams, was brought to a head yesterday, .when the first of the charges was proceeded with before Mr. P. H. Harper, S.M. The hearing w,as not commenced until the afternoon, and only two witnesses were heard before the Court adjourned ■until Monday. The accused men were William McKinnon broker, Wallace Fountain telegraphist, and Charles Thomas Clifford Hands, also a telegraphist. McKinnon and Fountain are charged that on August 13 they conspired to defraud Arthur Yeo, bookmaker, of Napier, of £99, by means of a forged telegram, and that on August 15 they conspired similarly to defraud yeo of £80. The charges against McKinnon and Hands, alleging a similar- offence, were adjourned until after the hearing of the first charges. Mr A. S. Wauchop appeared for McKinnon and Mr. L. T. Burnard for Fountain. Practically the whole afternoon was occupied with the hearing of evidence by George Stanley Symons in whose name the telegrams -were sent to the iDookmaker, but just before the adjournment surprise was created by the evidence of a telephone exchange attendant that she frequently connected McKinTions telephone to Fountain when thelatter was engaged on the tclegravh counter. b 1U McKinnon's Bets Not Accepted. McLeod stated that in Julv McKinnon, from whom Yeo would not accept bets, owing to an outstanding flebt of £30 three years ago, had

arranged with Symons to bet in his name. Bookmakers had a system whereby approved clients were allowed to wager up to a fixed limit, on condition that telegrams were lodged five minutes before the advertised time of the starting of a race. Yeo allowed Symons a limit of £20, McKiimon arrang-. ing that all correspondence be sent through his post office box. Owing to the delay in telegrams backing winners, Yeo became suspicious, one message not being dispatched till half an hour after it was handed in-. Yeo asked for a departmental inquiry, and the matter was then handed to the police. All the telegrams were sent by McKinnon and signed "Symons" without the latter's consent, and on several there were distinct signs of erasures. Messages Delayed. On August 13, said the detective, two horses were backed by McKinnon, one being Membo. This message was delayed 24 minutes. On the second day another telegram was delayed a similar time. On August 17 a cheque for £179 came from- Yeo, addressed to Symone, and McKinnon paid it into his own account. Symons gave much evidence regarding his transactions with McKinnon. He sajd lie owned the racehorse Malahat, and following a discussion a'bout this, McKinnon suggested that witness should arrange "No reply" telegrams to Yeo. Witness agreed, and at McKinnon's suggestion.'he arranged that all correspondence should go to McKinnon. McKinnon was not to use "No reply" without notifying witness, but he. had never done so. The first 'he knew of McKinnon's transaction was ■when he was told of a dispute over a £20 wager on Mark Mint, and at McKinnon's dictation, he wrote to Yeo, asking why the settlement was not made. When Detective McLeod produced a sheaf of telegrams, * signed "Symons," witness stated he had not sent them, nor authorised anyone else to do so. At McKinnon's request he 'had subsequently telephoned Yeo in Napier, but the latter refused to answer -the telephone. "To Retract His Statement." Symons stated that after he had been interviewed by the police, McKinnon arranged to meet him where they 'would not be seen together, and requested him to retract his statement to the police that he 'had not given permission for his name to 'be used, but witness refused. McKinnon then offered to pay all expenses if -witness would go to Napier, 6 qf '1° and c ? lle ct. £150, which he I aueged Yeo owed/ihim. ' McKinnon had

called on 'him twice since his arrest, and said Yeo was the man causing all the trouble, and again asked him to say he had given permission for his name to be used. Witness had known nothing of t'he wagers and had not participated in the profits. Grose-examined by Mr. Wauchop, Syir.ons said he knew MoKinnon had had a row with Yeo and he could not bet in his own name. Witness had addressed envelopes tor McKinnon to send to Yeo. Mf. Wauchop: Because it was understood that he should continue to use your name? —Yes, I was a mug. You got instructions from Yeo for the purpose , of betting?— Yes. Being the owner of a racehorse, you are prohibited from betting with bookmakers, and you are liable .to disqualification? —Yes, but I would 'have bet if I wanted to. But-you didn't bet with Yeo? You didn't want to 'bet with a bookmaker, did you?— You are only using me as a chopping block. You never complained of McKinnon .using your "No reply?"— No. . Telephone Girl's Evidence. Elsie Morrell, telephone operator, said that during the past two or three months she frequently connected McKinnon's private telephone with Fountain at the telegraph counter and several times she had switched the counter over to McKinnon's telephone for Fountain. She had recognised both voices. . Mr. Wauchop: Did you hear any of the. conversion?—l was too busy for that. Is that the only reason? ~- . Witness did not answer. The hearing was then adjourned: until Monday. ' ' . .