TIPSTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 124, 27 May 1940, Page 3

TIPSTER.

"TRIMMING MUGS."

RACING SPECIALS. AUSTRALIAN FINED £30. MUST LEAVE NEW ZEALAND. After paying a fine of £30, a young man who recently arrived here, from Australia and started a scheme whereby, in return for payments of £1, lie would give punters the name of a horse specially "set" for a race, was ordered by Mr. C. K. Orr Walker, S.M., in the l'olice Court to-day, to leave New Zealand forthwith and not return within two years. liaymoiiil Dennison, a«jeil 24, pleaded guilty to live summons charges of sending circulars to persons with inte.nt to induce them to apply to "It. Burke" with a view to obtaining advice for the purpose of wagering on horse races. He was represented by Mr. Robinson. Detective-Sergeant McHugli, who prosecuted, produced one of the circulars sent put by Dennison, who arrived here ■ from Australia towards the end of February. He said he had come he.re for a holiday, but shortly after his arrival he started the illegal scheme, which had far-reaching effects. "On his own admission he sent otit 1 OCX) circulars each week," said Mr. McHugh. "Although lie doesn't know the horses, he says he was poinp: to study form and would tip the £r<iod things to the 'mugs' who would sejul him £1. He says he got 20 replies a week." Mr. Orr Walker: In his circular he. savs he would refund the £1 sent him if the horse ran unplaced. "But he . admitted to DetectiveSergeant Aplin that he had not refunded anv money," replied Detective-Sergeant McHugh. " Weekly ' Special.'"

Exfracts from the circulars sent out by defendant were as follows: —"Our Racing Service has inaugurated a new service. ]t is a weekly special released on the main Saturday fixture and carries with it a money-back guarantee. For the Waverley Bating Club's meeting next Saturday, April 27, our Racing Service will be releasing one horse only. This candidate has been especially 'set' for the event. The horse will pay a big dividend and is a sure trier. He has shown in his trials that he is far above the opposition, but he will not be a popular fancy with the public. The fee for this extra special is £1, with I the genuine guarantee that your fl will be refunded in full should the horse fail to return a dividend.'' "This young man has been trimming the mugs here," Detective-Sergeant McHugh said, "and he has Ik'oii using a Post Office box to assist him in carrying out the fraud. I will ask that the maximum penalty be imposed, as this sort of thing has been on the increase and there has been an influx of this tyjve of person to this country." "Stranger Led Astray." Mr. Robinson said Dennison was making his lirst appearance before any Court. He arrived here from Australia on February 19 on holiday. While at Kllerslie racecourse he saw an adverI tisement on the back of a turf publication inviting persons to send 10/ for a | special bet. In Australia tipping on j horse races was witlely practised. Dennison thought tipping could also be done in Auckland. "He carried his scheme out lionestlv and fairly and communicated with those whose horses had lost, when they agreed to allow the £1 to remain on for another race," added counsel. "Dennison's second tip won. There has never been any suggestion of fraud in his methods. He made very little out of the scheme. He is leaving the country-to-day and has no desire to return."

'"The worst feature of his offence was that he claimed he would release the name of a hnive that was 'set' in return for £1 and that if it did not win the money would be refunded," said Mr. Orr Walker. "The idea of telling those mugs—for mugs they were who would swallow such a thing—indicated that it was all squared for a j>articular horse to win. It was a way of getting money practically under false pretences. In any case persons could not very well get their money 'back for the only address he gave was a postal box. And he is not "R. Burke," which is only an assumed name. I'm afraid I cannot take him to be the innocent youth from that his counsel says he is. He is liable to a fine of £.30, or a term of three months' imprisonment. I suppose we'll be pleased to see him go away from this country, after he pays a fine of £50." Dennison was also convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within two years and ordered to leave New Zealand forthwith and remain away during the period of two years.