NEW CONFIDENCE TRICK

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21867, 21 August 1936, Page 19

NEW CONFIDENCE TRICK

A “CERTAINTY” THAT MISSED

"AUCKLAND TRAINER” NOW IN GAOL

Being asked for a pencil by a stranger outside the totalisator at Addington on August 12, Robert Scollay, o'f Dunedin, obliged and saw the man write down £l5O against a horse. The information was then volunteered that the stranger, Howard Maitland, a man with several aliases, had made a whole lot of money and knew a certain thing for the last race, Mocast. Maitland told Scollay that he was a big trotting trainer from Auckland, and that Mocast was as big a certainty as was possible in racing. In fact he was so certain of it that he himself had invested this £ 150, and he strongly advised Scollay to put on as much he he could. In fact he offered to put £ls on for Scollay if he had the money.

Maitland then disappeared, apparently with the intention of putting some money on, and he/no sooner had gone when two well-dressed young men approached Scollay, and asked what tip the big trainer from Auckland had given him for that race, as he was sure to know the winner. Maitland returned and asked Scollay how much he had put on, and was told that in the meanwhile he had put on £ls, as that was all he could spare, Maitland told him that that was hardly enough and seeing him with a £5 note in his hand took it and said he would put that on also. Scollay watched him, as he knew that the totalisator had closed, and saw Him move round among the crowd and then come back, saying that everything would be all right. The race was run, both Scollay and Maitland watching it together, and Mocast came nowhere. Maitland then faded away and the £5 note was not returned. Maitland had already told Scollay that if the horse lost he would pay him £ls. but Maitland was not seen again that day by Scollay. The following day Scollay went to the races at Riccarton, and he had not been there long before he recognised Maitland. He had, previously had his doubts about the genuineness of Maitland, and had informed the detectives about him. When he saw Maitland at the racecourse he asked him about the £5; but Maitland had tried to blufMiim. Acting-Detective Cunningham then came up and took Maitland back to town. While he was being brought back to town Maitland said to the detective: “I suppose that he wants his £5 back, but I have put it on the tote.”

One result of these dealings was the appearance of Maitland in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning before Mr E. C. Lewey. He pleaded not guilty, through his counsel, Mr J K Moloney, to the theft of £5 from Robert Scollay, but pleaded guilty, under the name of Franklin John Smith, to attending a race meeting when a prohibited person. On that charge he was convicted and discharged, but on the other he was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment.

C . h l e -‘P. etective W, H. Dunlop said that Maitland was well known to the police and produced a sheet of his previous convictions.

If he will not admit these I am quite prepared to prove them. He is a Pure and unadulterated spieler, and the hardest work he does is taking people down.” he added.