MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1271, 28 October 1911, Page 14

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

OUT AT TRENTHAM. RACE SCOUT WATCHES TWO MEN. WHAT HE SATS HE SAW. (Before Mr. W. G. RiddeU, S.M.)

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, W. J. Drew and John Smith (otherwise James M'Crea) wero prosecuted on a chargo that, being bookmakers, they did bet on tke Trcntham. racecourse last Monday. Chief Detective Broberg conducted tho prosecution, and Mr. J. j. M'Urath appeared to defend.

A racecourse detective named Samuel Kraetzer gave evidence. He stated that Detective Mason and ho had watched Drew and Smith for over an hour. Both men wero in tho people's enclosure, and people wero seen to approach them and give them money. Whenever this happened Drew made entries in his racebook. The pair had also been observed paying out money. Mason and he presently took them to the secretary's office, where Drew gave up a racebook containing entries of bets. Drew had with him £b in gold, and £3 lCs. in silver. Smith at first denied that he had a racebook, but subsequently was persuaded to produce one, and ho also handed out a sheet of paper on which were certain entries relating to. "doubles." During tho time that Drew and M'Crea had been nnder observation, they, had not gone to the totalisator.

Witness read out some of the entries written in Drew's racebook. The amounts were small—mostly 2s. Gd.—and wore pencilled in juxtaposition to tho name of Bomo horse. Initials or other lettering Becmed to indicate that sotno member of the public was figuring in each transaction. "I have been a racecourse detective for the last nine years in New Zealand," said Kraetzer, in .corunicnting on theso entries, "and I havo an expert knowledge of bookmakers. j These aro entries of totalisator betting."

Mr. M'Grath: Have you ever come across these people bofore ?—"No." Do you suggest that they aro bookmakers?—"l say that they are totalisator bettors." Do you suggest that they are bookmakers ?—"Tote bettors are bookmakers." Witness went on to stato that, on some six or seven occasions, ho had observed Drew taking money from people. The other man had done the same, but on a lesser number of occasions. Mr. M'Grath asked how it was that ■witness knew that what was given Drew and M'Crae was money, "lou must remember," he remarked, "that these men may go to prison for two months. Witness: I saw money passed, with their hands down like that-low down. Mr. M'Grath: Why, do you say it was money?—'To the best of my belief it was." ' ~ •, But why do you say it was money when you did not see it?-" Well, ha took it, and put it in his pocket." But if you did not see it, how can jou say it was money?-"I behoved from their actions that it was money. But can you swear that it was money? His Worship (to witness): "You must stick to the question." Witness: Well, I could not swear to Mr. M'Grath: You don't know what it waa? ~ , , ... Witness: I could not be positiTe. '. Mr. M'Grath: I suppose you know that it is quite a common thing on the racecourse for people to make up a "tote ticket" of XI with, say, eight half-crowns ?- "I havo never known a sweep to be made up in that form, but I have always known totalisator betting to bo done in that way." , , , . Mr. M'Grath produoed his own racebook, and showed a number of notes and entries therein, and witness admitted tliat these entries were "somewhat similar" to those in Drew's book. Mr. M'Grath: Yc-u know that people who can't go to races ask people who can to put money on for them?—" Yes." It is quite possible that this is the case here?—"lt is quite possible." Deferring to the statement about the sheet of paper containing double entries, Mr. M'Grath asked the witness: If you found the names of two horses on a piece of paper, would you say it was a double?— "Yes." His Worship: I suppose yon mean it might be a double. Mr. M'Grath: If you found the name of a horso in the Melbourne Cup and the name of a horse in the CaulncJd Cup, would vou say it was a double? Detective Broberg: Did you ever hear of any person having 21 investments an a race whero thore is a field of eight horses?—" Never." ,„,— .„ Is it not absolutely absurd?—lt ra. The case was adjourned till Monday, THE BEST OF THE LIST. Henry Edward Hartwell was sentenced to two months' imprisonment for stealing a vacuum cleaner, valued at .£2 10s., the property of Hubert White. Georgo Harley was fined .82 for breaking a prohibition order. I'or cycling on footpaths, William Leslie Fox, Bert. W. Lcgg, Leslie Perry, and Rayward S. Pope were each ordored to pay court costs 7s. Georgo Boyd was acquitted on a charge of stealing a. case of lemons belonging to Lacry and Co. His Worship remarked that there was a doubt as to whether or | not Boyd intended to keep tho fruit. Mr.

P. W. Jackson represented tho accused. Harry Adams was charged with stealing a fowling-picoe, valued at £3, the property of E. J. Whiteombo. Chief Detective Broborg stated that Adams had hired tho gun for 2s. 6d. to go shooting. Tho weather came on wet, and Adams stayed in town, and while under tho influence of liquor pawned the gun for £1. His Worship convicted accused and ordered him to appear for sentence when called upon.