TROTTING SCANDAL

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 183, 29 April 1924, Page 8

TROTTING SCANDAL

KINGSDALE CASE HEARD

ALLEGED FRAUD ON GORE RACING CLUB By Telegraph.—Press association. Dunedin, April 28. In the Magistrate’s Court to-day, before Mr. H. W. Bundle. S.M.. another of the trotting scandal cases was heard. This was that in which John Richards and Walter Leonard James Cameron were jointly charged that they conspired by fraudulent means to defraud the Gore Racing Club by entering a horse named 1 he Dingo in the Balfour Trot at the meeting held on October 20, 1923, under a false name, to wit, Kingsdale. Mr. A. C. Hanlon appeared, foi Richards, and Mr. J. Sinclair for Cameron. Johann Fitzgerald, postmistress at Dunback, said that she received a letter signed, “A. Dalziel,” on September 13 or 14 1923, in which the writer asked witness to readdress any letters to Outram and White, chemists, South Dunedin. Witness readdressed several letters addressed to A. Dalziel. None of the letters so readdressed had been returned to Dunback post office. Francis Walter Allan, railway porter at Waitati, said that on September 13. 1923. a horse arrived at Waitati about 12.30 a.m. A man arrived in a motor-car at the station and made inquiries about the arrival _ of tho horse. The man took possession of the horse and signed for it. The receipt was signed, “A. Dalziel.” Hetirv Albert White, a partner in the business of Outram and White, said that he had known the accused Richards for about four years. Witness had not seen any letters at his shop addressed to Dalziel, and had no recollection of tho name “Dalziel” in connection with the shop nt a’l. Harold William Rushworth Outram, the partner of the previous witness, said that quite a number of letters wero addressed care of his shop for people. Letters so left were put on a ledge at the back of the counter to be called for. It would be possible for a person using Hie telephone to obtain possession of a letter if he wished to do so. Constable O’Connor, of Waitati, deposed that he bad made inquiries foi a person named Dalziel, but there w«s no person of that name living in Waitati. 'Witness had lived in the district for 21 years. Buying a Horse. Frederick William Wilson, farmer, said that he had bred a few trotting horses. He had met both accused, who had called, at liis place at Laudet some time last spring. _ They wanted to buy a light horse. Richards did not want a horse, but his companion did. They wanted a light horse by King Daphne for about £2O. If the horse was no good for racing they could sell it as an ordinary gig or hack horse. Witness showed them one King Daphne horse, which at that t.inie he thought would be a trotter. This horse was worth about £lOO. He did not Sell any horses, but told them that they might get a light horse at Donnellv’s. James Martin Samson, auctioneer, also the representative of the Eew Zealand Trotting Association in Otago and Southland, said that ho interviewed the accused Richards on February 6 last under instructions from the ‘Trotting Association, and took a statement from him concerning Ins connection with various trotting horses, dealing particularly with a horse called’Kingsdale. This statement was signed by Richards. Tn the course of it, ’aootsscjd outlined bis connection with Belfire, Blue Chimes, Hoch Aye, and other horses. Tn regard to Kingsdale, accused said that he and Cameron were together in Central Otago on skin buying business when the latter bought a horse, but he had nothing to do with the purchase. He denied speaking to anyone about buying ahorse or inspecting the horses at Wilson’s or Donnelly’s. He Lad lent Cameron the firm’s cheque to enable him to pay for the horse. Cameron repaid the amount, when he returned to town. He had never ordered a horse box on that occasion, and if Wilson had said he (Richards) wanted to buy a- horse and wanted Wilson, to fake the pedigree, he would-be saying something absolutely untrue. He went out to Outram to time a horse for Cameron. The horse did 2.35 the first day, 2.37 the second, and 2.26 the third. The first two days were wet. Cameron told) people there it. was a horse named Sirella, or fomething like that, but he (Richards) knew it was a horse registered as Kingsdale. Ho refused to say whether he backed the horse at Gore or why he backed it. As a trotting man he would say it would be impossible for anyone to buy a horse, break him. and train him for two months and get him to do 2.24 1-5. , . Alfred George Austin, clerk in the railway goods office, Dunedin, produced a consignment note for a horse consigned to W. Cameron on September 22, 1924. The horse arrived here and was signed for bv W. Cameron. David Brittain Cameron, farmer, of Outram, gave evidence that he loaned his track to Cameron for training a horse doing a mile in 2min. 29sec. He did not hear the horse called Kingsdale. x , Harry Logie James, secretary oi the Forbury Park Trotting Club, gave evidence regarding the registering ot the horse. Frank Young, secretary of the Gore Racing Club, deposed as to receiving a nomination for the horse Kingsdale and later receiving a letter from Cameron explaining that it was a maiden. Cameron rode the horse at the race, receiving £95 for winning- There were 253 10s. investments on Kingsdale.

Backing Kingsdale.

William Francis James, who conducted all the tqtalisators from Timaru to Invercargill, said that he saw Richards in the totalisator house at Gore on October 20. The latter asking for a betting book, witness gave it upon receipt of an open cheque to cover any bets accused might have. Richards’put £lOO on Kingsdale, and the dividend paid by it was £lllis. fid. for £l. The money paid to Richards as the result of this bet was £lOB7 10s.. together with Ins own cheque. r l he total amount on Knigsdale on ’ tho machine was £126 10s., leaving £26 10s. apart from Richards s bet. . Arthur Janies Gibbs, of Goro, who handicapped tho horses at the meeting, said that he put Kingsdale on limit on account of it being a maiden. If he had known that Kingsdale could do a mile in 2min. ISscc. he would have put it 144 vards behind. John Bellamy Norris, secretary of tho New Zealand Trotting. Association gave evidence as to an inquiry held in regard to Kingsdale, at which Cameron appeared and after handing in a statement was disqualified. > John Challis, finger print expert, staled that the signatures “A. Dal-zic-11” and “W. Cameron” were written by the same person. Arthur Butterfield said that ho had known The Dingo for four, years under the ownership of P. MqNeil. He had ridden and driven it at most engagements. Its time three years ago was 2min. 14sec. Witness' identified tho horse in tho police yard as The Dingo.

Horace Ernest Martin, veterinary surgeon, said that he had examined a horse oil April 10 at Grant’s Stables, Dunedin, and knew it to be The Djngo by the marks of “firing” he had himself done. Chief-Detective Lewis said that lie could not go further. McNeil, the man who sold the horse, l ad not appeared. but his evidence could be taken in the Supreme Court. Accused reserved their defence and were committed to the Supreme Court. Bail liras allowed.