STAMP ORDER AS CODE

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 October 1932, Page 9

STAMP ORDER AS CODE

FRAUD ON BOOKMAKERS? LONDON, September 4. A novel “code,” by which, it was alleged, two men tried to work racing frauds on bookmakers, was described at Leeds yesterday, when Jesse Herbert Thompson, 20, of Woodlesford. and Henry White, of Mount Preston Street, Leeds, were remanded on charges of conspiracy, false pretences and fraud. It was alleged that the two men went to small post offices in various parts of the city. A few' minutes before the time of a. race, White would hand in a. telegram in code bearing the name of a horse, and this would bo stamped by the assistant at the time received. A few minutes before the race was 'due to start, Thompson would then enter and engage the telephone, preventing the assistant from transmitting the telegram to the head post office, while at the same time he would learn from a Leeds commission agent's office, where he had an account, the name of the winner. White, it was alleged, remained in tho shop, pretending to write a letter. while Thompson left the 'phone and went to the counter, and purchased stamps. The prosecution alleged that the quantity of stamps bought, constituted an intimation to White of (lie winner’s name, and White would then ask for the tele- ■ gram back, and insert the code word, which gave the name of the horse to bo backed.