BETTING TRICK

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 69, 14 December 1933, Page 15

BETTING TRICK

— Letter Posted Twice ADMISSION BY CHINESE An admission that he had attempted to obtain from Charles J. Williams at Palmerston North £l5O by a false pretence in a betting transaction was made by Joe Hoe, aged 45, a Chinese fruiterer, in the Police Court yesterday. Detective-Sergeant Revell said that accused had been betting with a Palmerston North bookmaker. Bets mailed or telegraphed before the starting of a race were recognised by, the bookmaker. Accused had rented a private box at a post office, and on October 19, when races were being run at Wellington, he posted a letter to himself, leaving it unsealed, and writing his name and address very lightly. He got it back shortly after S a.m. bearing the Wellington postmark. He then rubbed off the name and address, typed on Williams’s’ and took the train for Palmerston North. After hearing the result of a race lie posted the letter with a request for bets of £l6 on a winning horse for a win and £5 for a place, as well as other bets, Williams saw that it bore the Wellington postmark timed before 8 a.m. and the Palmerston North postmark, but, not being satisfied, lie informed the police. Upon being interviewed, Hoe admitted what hac| occurred. Williams said that on October 19 lie had received a letter containing a bet fpr £l6 on Walton Park for a win and £5 for a place, as well as some other bets. The race had been run and Walton Park had paid £l4. Accused would have received £l5O had witness paid out. Detective-Sergeant Hall produced a statement made by accused admitting his actions, and saying that he had been betting heavily with bookmakers of recent years, and had lost £6OO or £7OO. Accused, for whom Mr. A. Hogg appeared, was committed for sentence by Mr, E. Page, S.M., bail being.allowed at £l5O, with a surety of like amount. Mr. Hogg said Hoe had hud an excellent reputation, and was the manager of two shops.