“Telephone Tapped Before Meetings”

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30918, 26 November 1965, Page 6

“Telephone Tapped Before Meetings”

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) SYDNEY Three leading Sydney jockeys and trainers have complained of having their private telephone conversations monitored just before race meetings. Others suspect their lines are being tampered with.

The Post Office has launched an investigation into the allegations. The jockey, A. Mulley, said yesterday he was certain his telephone was tapped frequently, particularly in the 24 hours before a race meeting “You can often hear the

lines click open just as your conversation starts,” he said “Now and then —when I am certain someone is eavesdropping—! have played a joke in conversation. Then you can hear the ’phone line click as the listener-in goes off the line." Mrs Mulley, who answers most of the calls at the house said: “It has become quite impossible to have a private conversation.” The trainer, J. Green, said he had heard his private tele phone conversations recounted in detail later by other people. Another rider, W. Camer. said he was sure that strangers were listening to his calls He had also been bothered by mysterious calls at all hours of the day or night. “One man claimed he wanted to engage me as the rider of Yangtze in the last Melbourne Cup.” Camer said “He claimed to be a connexion, but 1 knew he was lying because he tripped up on some questions I asked him.”

Mrs Ray Selkrig, wife of another jockey, said their home was plagued by alleged trunk calls from people unknown to them.