PUBLISHING BETTING CARDS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 226, 27 August 1912, Page 2

PUBLISHING BETTING CARDS

; | i THREE MEN CHARGED. ! AVellington. Aug. 26. S I At the Magistrate’s Court to-day j Arthur Law, J. Cowan and Dave i Ross, for whom Mr. M. Myers api peared, were charged on separate ! counts with publishing betting notifications in July last. Sub-inspector Sheehan conducted the case for the police. Detective-sergeant Cassels said that on July 12th he wrote a letter from the Railway Hotel, Lower Hutt, to A. La*’, asking him to post him a double card. He signed the letter ‘J. Morris. Railway' Hotel, Lower Hutt.” On July 16th he got a reply. I a double card containing entries for the Parliamentary Handicap and Winter Hurdles and Wellington Steeplechase. Double prices were quoted on the card. On July 16th 1 witness wrote another letter, notifying the receipt of the double card,: and enclosed 10/-, asking for a bet! on Sir Lethe and The Native. On j July 29th he wrote another letter | somewhat similar, and two days J later he received a reply. Both cards he got in return for his letters were marked ’Yankee Jack.” and witness said that he knew that this was the soubriquet used by Law. Mr. Myers objected that this could not be admitted. It must be proved that Law did use this name. Witness said it was a matter of common knowledge ; but surely that was not sufficient. Constable Doyle said that when he served the defendant the latter ! said to him, “I know who’s responsible for this; it’s that Sherlock ( Holmes up there.’’ i

In the case against Cowan, Detective Cassels, in evidence, said that he sent him similar letters. In this ease lie received back cards marked. “C.C.,” which he knew were from Cowan. Mr. Myers raised the same objection —namely, that witness only know by heresay that ”C.C.” was Cowan’s - sign. He could not give his source of information.

In the case of Ross the evidence was again similar, but the cards were marked “Y.Z.” A pc.stal note sent by Detective Cassels was returned by Ross with a covering letter stating that the defendant had given up the bookmaking business. His Worship reserved-his decisions.