TENY RADIO UP SLEEVE USED IN BETS FRAUD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 3, 4 January 1941, Page 5 (Supplement)

TENY RADIO UP SLEEVE USED IN BETS FRAUD.

TINY radio receiving set concealed up a coat sleeve enabled a man with a woman accomplice «to defraud a Randwick bookmaker of £32. With the aid of the radio the man was able to place two bets at 16 to 1 on Wheatear after that horse had actually won the second division of the Beaumaris Handicap at Mentone. The woman collected the bets—£32 to £2 and £10 to £1 as soon as Whoa tear was posted a winner, but a smart clerk of one fielder became suspicious and chased the pair and, forced the man to return the £1(5, states the Sydney "Sun" of Sunday l,ast. The bookmaker who got his money back was E. Murray. The man placed his two bets on Wheatear about 2 p.m., at which hour the second division of the Beaumaris Handicap was timed to start He later stood in front of the board, his arm resting on the woman's shoulder, and close to his ear. The woman was holding up a form guide, which made an effective "smother" for the man. Murray's clerk, who chased the couple after the woman had collected the bets, is said to have found that the man had a miniature receiving set, with an ear phone the size of a livc-shillin<» piece, up his sleeve. ° ' The clerk was given back Murray's £16, but the man and woman then disappeared before the other bookmaker could be informed of what had happened. The A.J.C. supervising staff was called, but it was then too late to take any action. Both bookmakers, however, believe that they will be able to recognise the couple again, and if they make another appearance on a Sydney racecourse they will be pointed out to officials. The incident draws attention to the fact that the A.J.C. still refuses to follow the practice of most clubs in relaying descriptions of Melbourne races. The A.J.C. considers that the servioe is generally unnecessary and broadcasts only cups and classics.