BETS OF £1000

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 November 1927, Page 12

BETS OF £1000

BOOKMAKER CHARGED.

MELBOURNE, November 16. Frank Robinson, aged 40 years, who described himself as a retired bookmaker, appeared before the City Court to-day to answer a charge of having obtained credit to the amount of £1750 from Albert Edward Neville, licensee of the Paragon Hotel, Circular Quay, Sydney, by means of false pretence. Mr Neville said that he first met defendant in June last when Robinson told him that he was a retired bookmaker from London, and that he desired to purchase a hotel, for which he was prepared to pay between £35,000 and £40,000 cash. Robinson asked witness to go to Melbourne to place £lOOO on a horse for him. He said that he had exclusive information about the horse’s chance, but witness would be able to get longer odds, as defendant was known to bookmakers here. The horse won, and witness paid defendant £4OOO. Defendant then left for abroad. Witness gave him certain commissions to perform in England. When he was in Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup meeting witness again met defendant, ■who asked him to place two bets of £lOOO each for him. He said he had between £2OOO and £3OOO at Cook’s, and witness placed the bets for him. Both horses lost, and when witness asked Robinson for the money he paid him £250, and said he would pay the remainder later, as he was experiencing difficulty at his bank. Witness did not see Robinson again until after he was arrested. He had not received the remainder of the money owing. Detective Lee said that Robinson admitted telling Mr Neville that he had money to his credit at Cook’s. Iln reply to a question, witness said that he understood that defendant pioneered concession betting in England, and was a better in a large way in Australia.

Alan Johnston, clerk, employed by Thomas Cook and Sons, said that Robinson exhausted the amount of his letter of credit from England when he drew £374 on October 31 last. - Charles Edward Foreshaw, manager of the Melbourne office of the National Bank of Australasia, Limited, said that on November 7 Robinson had a credit balance of £1779 to his current account at the Strand branch of the bank. He could not say when that amount was paid in, as his advice was received by cable. Mr Gorman, who appeared for the defendant, submitted that there was no charge to answer, as the law did not recognise the contract. Even if this aspect was disregarded Robinson had enough money to pay his debt. Robinson was committed for trial at the December sessions. Bail was fixed at £5OO.