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“RINGING IN” CHARGES

TROTTING SENSATION DEVELOPMENTS

ALL SMOKE CASE BEFORE SUPREME COURT

“THIS FUNNY-LOOKING

HORSE” (BY TELEGBAPH—PKESS ASSOCIATION.) Christchurch, May 13. The last phase of widespread investigations which have been carried over the last three months regarding trotting methods in New Zealand was entered upon in the Supreme Court to-day, when a commencement was made with the trial of the men. implicated in the ringing-in allegations. The charges involve four race meetings. That regarding the Otahuhu meeting was taken first.. This is the case in which a hide is an exhibit. The assumption is that the horse which once lived in that hide raced under the name of All Smoko. The men concerned—Alfred Tucker, Charles FI. Capes, and WitHam Williamson —are charged with having conspired with each other to defraud the Otahuhu Trotting Club by substituting an unknown horse for All Smoke. Mr. Justice, Adams was on tho Bench, Mr. A. T. Donnelly conducted the case for the Crown, Mr. A. C. Hanlon appeared for Williamson and Capes, and Mr. C. S. Thomas for Tucker. . , „ „ Tt is expected that the trial of all the cases will last a week. Case for Crown Outlined. The Crown Prosecutor said that Williamson had been engaged as trainer and driver, but had also followed other occupations. Capes was a fruiterer, and Tucker was employed by him. In recent years the sport of trotting had increased in popularity until it had become one of the great pastimes of New Zealand. The charges, therefore, had been given great prominence in the newspapers, and had been freely and widely discussed, and most members of the’eommunity had arrived at some opinion of their own as to the merits of the charges. It was his duty to remind the jury that they were the judges of the three accused, and it was their duty to dismiss from their minds any preconceived opinion that they might have formed about the cases. It would be a regrettable thing if the notoriety attained by a person prejudiced his trial. The evidence was circumstantial as in the conspiracy case. It was impossible to obtain any direct evidence. The ease for the Crown in this instance was based on the actions and conduct of these three men. Ring-ing-in was a despicable and mean offence, because it was fraud on everyone who wont to the racecourse. If it was proved that accused had planned to ring in a horse, it meant they had attempted to put their hands in the pocket of every person on tho racecourse. The Crown Prosecutor proceeded to review accused’s connection with All Smoke. He said the name of the horse that ran was not known, as it had been destroyed. From what was known of tho real All Smoke, however, it was certain that he would not have appealed as a winner of horse races. He was a bad horse, with a worse record, and no honest, intelligent person would have backed him to win a race in a big meeting like that at Auckland. In Christchurch Capes engaged a man named Bennett to drive the horse at Auckland. Bennett asked what was the name of the horse, and Capes said it was something they had been keeping. He would not tell his name then, as lie wanted the horse to pay something. Later Bennett called at Capes’s shop, and go' his boat ticket ana £5 for his train fare. This was the statement made by Bennett recently, and was not the one he made in the Lower Court. After the race meeting Williamson and Capes were seen going to a boiling-down works with a horse which was destroyed, and subsequently a hide was handed over to the police, (t could be seen from the hide that the horse had been painted up. Underneath the black a bay colour could be noticed when the hair was ruffled. The real All Smoke was discovered by Detective Gibson on the premises of a man named McDonald, and was outside the Court for the jury to see, if they desired. Referring again to the evidence of tho driver, the Crown Prosecutor said that in the Lower Court Bennett’s evidence was that ho was not retained in Christchurch to drive the horse, but that Capes asked him to drive shortly before the race. Since then Bennett had given notice that he proposed to alter his evidence, and through his solicitor he had forwarded a statement of what he now said was the true story, namely, that he was specially engaged in Christchurch. The Crown Prosecutor added that the chain of circumstantial evidence had no weak link, and whatovor counsel for defence might say the dumb witness of the painted hide could not be escaped. Stakes Withheld. Robert Leslie Absolum, secretary of the Otahuhu Trotting Club, said that the club held races on November 21 and 24. The first race on the first day was the Introductory Handicap, in harness, for trotters that had not done better than 2.28 for a mile. All Smoke and Wild Moa were nominated for this, and All Smoke was entered for the Innovation Handicap, the first face on the «econd day. Regarding All Smoke, A. Tucker was given as the owdx and J. McDonald as the trainer. The horse was by Jingle— Palmßell. J. McDonald was given as tlie owner and trainer of Wild Moa. Wild Moa was scratched on the first day by a person signing himself “J. McDonald, per C. Shaw.” Lord Roberts (38yds. behind) won the Introductory Handicap, and All Smoke on limit was second. All Smoke on tho second day started from 108yds. behind in a saddle race with AV. Williamson up. All Smoke did a mile and a half in Bmin. 45 2-ssec. Witness explained that the stakes won on tho first day had been retained by the club. Tucker, when he made inquiries about the stakes, was told that the stakes were withheld on account of destroying All Smoke without notifying the conjmitteo. Mr. Hanlon: When a man nominates a horse, do particulars from the form go in the racebook ?

Witness: Yes. Who does it?—“The secretary.” There were stipendiary stewards at Otnhnihu?—“Yes, two.” Tho birdcage stewards see that horses answer tho details on the racebooks ? —“Yes.” WJio was the steward on the first dav?—“Mr. Wilson.”

T-Tn v-nsn’t nbln to do it all day?— “That is so.” Ho drills a little?—"Yes.”

Ho was removed from his position and Mr. WMls wns placed in the job ? — "J hnfiovc lie was told to cense work.” WTint is All Smoke described as in tho rncolionk? —“As a bay gelding.” Th«' AH Smol-Jo that was entered was a black gelding?—“Yes.” Wns n.nv report made by the paid stipendiary stewards —“No?” At Otahu.hu a black horse can race

for a hay one and no one notice it?— “A letter B in the book may mean either. It may bo a printer’s error.” Is ‘‘blk.” the way to describe a block horse if no mistake has been made? —“Yes.” Was there the same error on each dft (vhen a race is concluded the three horses are inspected by the stipendiary stewards ?—“lt is not usually tho practice.” It doesn’t seem that much notice was taken of this horse?—“l didn’t see it myself; I was busy.” You went to the boiling-down works afterwards? —“Yes.” Did you look for shoes?—“No.” Did you speak to a blacksmith about them —“No.” You wore told that a horse had been boiled down? —“Yes.” Where was this particular hide?— “Among some others on the fourth top layer.” it would he impossible for you to --V that the skin, now in Court , was the skin you saw in its wet condition at the tannery?—“That is so.” Mr. Thomas: Did McDonald’s nomination have his address on it? Witness: “Yes.” Where nominations are signed by two persons they would both! get receipts?—“Yes.” , , , Mr. Donnelly: Had you any doubt that tho horse which raced as All Smoko was boiled down? Witness: “No.” Mr. Hanlon: It was the wrong coloured horse which ran ? Mr. Donnelly: Oh, that was a mistake. , , Mr. Hanlon: And none of the stewards saw it. Brown Hairs on Black Horse. John Wilson, manager of the Otahuhu Gas Works and steward of the Otahuhu club, said that before the November meeting of the club ho saw a black horse about 15.2 or 15.3 hands at tho Criterion Hotel. Williamson was in charge of the horse and Capes was with him. Witness peculiarity, that there were brown hairs about the horse’s muzzle. On tho day of the meeting he saw tho horse (which was called All Smoke) go out of the birdcage for tho Introductory Handicap. It was driven by Bonnett, The horse went out the second day, but it broke down. Williamson got off and led it. On November 26 witness saw Williamson and Capos in tho yard of the hotel when thev wore preparing to go to the station. Ho did not see the horse then, or had lie seen it since. A horse which Detective Gibson showed witness at the time of the lower court proceedings was not tlie one that raced. Witness was birdcage steward at the meeting. He carried on the first day and part of the second day till the president asked him to take the duties of track steward. He was not removed from his position because he had been drinking. The description of the horse All Smoke in the race book was incorrect. Mr. Hanlon: It is quite incorrect to say that you bad been drunk?

Witness: Yes. Hadn’t you been having a few drinks?—“Not at- the time for the first race.' 1 You were talking to another man at lunch time?—“Yes.” 1 thought so. That is why you answered questions so glibly. Did he tell you about, this having been discussed? —“Ho just passed a remark.” You did not notice that there was a black horse running in the race in lien of the bay gelding that was mentioned in the book? c j-“No.” You could not have been looking after your business very well? —“Knowing the horse I never bothered.” You noticed brown coming through the black. To whom did you report it?—“What do you mean?’’

You would at once become suspicious? —"I did not know that tho horso was rung in.” What is your duty?—“To see that they went out to time and that the colours and saddle cloths were right.” Did you not examine the horse?— “There is not much time to look at them. After thev are. away tho next lot has to bo brought in.” They seem to be in a great bustle in Auckland. At any other place there doesn’t seem to bo that bustle ? —“You have to move.” On the second day did yon notice that there was sotno mistake in the book ? —“No.”

Brown eyes in a black horse. Funny looking thing wasn’t it? —“Yes.” Did it strike you to draw' the attention of anybody in Otahuhu to the fact that this funny looking horso was going out to race?—“No.” You did notice that he was very tender? —“Yes.’’ It is dangerous to allow a tender horse to go out and race amongst others? —“Not in all cases. It depends on the amoui’t of tenderness.”

But isn’t it a matter to report to the stipendiary steward? —“AVhich I did not do.”

You don’t seem to have done anything?—“They were there.” What did he do in the race? —“Nothing. Fie broke down.” Before he broke down what did he do? —“Ho seemed to be going fairly well.”

In tho lower court you said: “Up to the time he broke down ho did not seem to make any showing at all.” Which did ho do?—“I should take it that he was going fairly well.” AVas he going fairlv well or not?— You don’t know? —“That is about tha truth.”

Did you make any inquiries after the race?- —“Yes.” You went to see a chemist if any stuff was got for dying purposes. What did he say?—-“During tho time the horso was there he noticed that he had sold a lot of dye. Dutch drops?—“No, some acid. He said it was a black dye.”

Did you report that to.anvbody?— “I spoke to some of my friends.” The Crown Prosecutor (in re-exami-nation) : A good deal seems to have happened to you since the lower court hearing. Has anybody seen you since ?

Witness: No; we have just been talking it over. Peculiarity Noticed,

John Brownlee, an employee at Austin’s boilingdown works at Panmure, gave evidence as to receiving a black horse on November 26. There were two men, one of whom he identified as Williamson, but ho did not know the other. The horse was lame and covered with a rug. Williamson said that, he had a horse to bo destroyed. The horse was running out in a paddock for several days. One. morning on going to work witness noticed that the horse bad been rolling on tho wet grass. This was the first time ho noticed anything peculiar It was then that he discovered that it was bay underneath. In the ordinary way it was a shiny black, but when ruffled bay hairs showed distinctly. Other evidence having been given as to the hair on tho hide being dyed, the Court adjourned till to-morrow, the jury being locked up for the night. KINGSLAND CASK ACCUSED TO BE SENTENCED TODAY. Dunedin, May 13. The accused in the Kingsland ring-ing-in cases will come up for sentence on Wednesfini ~orn:ng.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19240514.2.81

Bibliographic details

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 196, 14 May 1924, Page 8

Word Count
2,261

“RINGING IN” CHARGES Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 196, 14 May 1924, Page 8

“RINGING IN” CHARGES Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 196, 14 May 1924, Page 8

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