A "Welsher" Sent to Gaol.

Hastings Standard, Issue 233, 29 January 1897, Page 3

A "Welsher" Sent to Gaol.

A case of interest to sportsmen, dealing with the laying of totalisator odds on a racecourse, was heard in the Magistrate's Court at Wellington. A woll-drc-ssc-d man named Arthur I'oulson was char.ejc-d with having -tolen 12s Cd from Frank Herd and .Is from Charles Houchen on 21st January, at the Jehnsonville and Ilutt County Trotting Club's Summer Meeting. The accused was also charged with having laid totalisator odd- on the result of a horse-race. Mr "W'ilfor*t appeared for the accused. Herd stated that he was at the races, and there met the accused. Witness gave I'oulson 5s on Sailor Boy and 2s Gdon Carbine. Subsequently Carbine was scratched, and the nccusscd gave witness back the lis (id, and witness gave him 7s (id more on Sailor lioy. The accused told witness that bis tii-in wen l the only cash field< rs on the course that day. Sailor lioy won and the totalisator declared a dividend of tls Is. When witness went back to get his money the accused had gone. Nothing was said to induce witness to give the money. The accused had agreed to pay totalisator odds. Hotichon gave similar evidence. Acting-1 'elective Cox stated that he arrested the accused. Then was another man naintd Ernest McKenzie, who was acting with the accused on the course, but the police had not been able to find him. Accused gave evidence on his own behalf, and stated he was only acting as clerk for McKeu/ie. lie left the course before the conclusion of the meeting, but waited while two races were l run before leaving. He denied h.t\ing agn.ed to pay totali.-ator odd-, lie had already written out an order for the return of the money to the complainant:-. llis Worship was sati.-iied that the accused left the place where he should have paid out the money with the object of defrauding those who had bought the tickets. It was ;accused's duty to wait a reasonable timeto allow the complainants to tind him. His Worship sentenced the accused to one month's imprisonment. Inspector Pender thereupon with drew the chirge of ha\ing laid totalisator odds. An order was also made for a return to the complainant* of the money invested by them.—Post.