MONEY ON A HORSE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 170, 13 April 1933, Page 12

MONEY ON A HORSE

Charges of Conspiring to Defraud LARGE SUM INVOLVED By Telegraph.—Press Association. Palmerston North, April 12. A remarkable story, in which a Swiss farmer, of Normanby, named Jacob Rutteman, alleged that he was tire victim of a confidence trick and had been induced to part with £450, was told in the Magistrate’s Court when a showman named Edward Tunnecliffe appeared on three charges of conspiring with persons unknown, by deceit to obtain from Bntteman on April 10, 1032, sums of £lOO and £lO, and on April 23 the sum of £340. Mr. Rutteman’s evidence was to the effect that he met Tunnecliffe by chance on a train- while going to Wellington on April 18. Tunnecliffe talked racing and said that his name w*as Wallace and that he had a racehorse en route to Nelson races. “I asked the horse’s name,” said witness, “but the only reply I got was that it was not a Phar Lap but still was a good horse.” Witness added that accused Induced him to cross to Nelson, where he handed over £lOO to be put on Wallace’s horse, Wallace claiming as an inducement that he recently made £2lOO on the same horse through the “books.” He also handed over £lO for a double on Landmark and Wallace’s horse. Returning to Wellington, witness'said that he was induced to go to Hawera and he drew out £7O and secured a cheque for £l5O, money owing him. Then he proceeded to Palmerston North, where he met accused and his associates at an hotel, where he listened to results of the races by wireless. Tunnecliffe entered the room, stating: “Sorry, Jacob, our money is lost.” Accused added that it could be got back with other investments, and witness handed over £7O, plus £l5O, plus a further cheque for £l2O, all to be put on Wallace’s horse: running at Nelson on the second day of the races. Several days later in Wellington he met accused, who said that something had happened to the horse and it could not run. Two days later witness went home. Witness said he would be able to identify accused as the person he understood to be 'Wallace. Expert witnesses were called by the police to compare handwritings, and Detective Russell stated that Tunnecliffe admitted using the name “Wallace” at shows. Accused also stood charged with a similar offence in respect to a retired hotelkeeper, Wm. Drysdale, of Wairoa, the sum involved being £lOO. Mr. Drysdale detailed that he saw accused and invested money for him with success, and later was induced to part with £lOO, on receipt by accused of a telegram purported to be signed “Hector' Gray” relating to a “sure thing” at the Takapuna races. A day or two later he went to accused’s home, asking for the cheque back, but was told that he was “mad.” Then he wired the bank, stopping payment, but received a reply that the cheque had already been cashed. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial.