THE ALLEGED FRAUD ON BOOKMAKERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1013, 15 November 1917, Page 6

THE ALLEGED FRAUD ON BOOKMAKERS.

I PHASER ''-FOUND- GUILTY

lFi3 PBISB ABBOCUTIOK.I . WELLINGTON, l\ox. .}■]

I The..hearing of against Eraser, Pitzgerald and McWitlJains concluded tonifht. ; Tlift Chief Justice, summing' up, .said if" the jury found ' Eraser not guilty they charged MeVilly and Markmann with perjury, Boeaiiso'i.'ilieso two witnesses had (worn that Kraser admitted "to them that ,ho had done wrong. Referring to Fit'Zifforald's statement, that Praser refused to ■ toll him the name of the horse to bo hacked. ho ; asked the jury to consider whether Fitzgerald . would not. have insisted on 'knowing- it. The-case against MeAYtlhams w;is verv slipht. His Honour said he did aiot understand what was meant by "good character" as applied to the defendants bv witnesses. If these men hail been in the habit of laying totalisator odds, they had been in, the habit of committing a crime, because in our Act a bet imposed 'on the person making it liability to a term of imprisonment or. a line or both. The jury, before retiring, acquitted McWilliams. "", :■■ • ' After a. retirement of an hour and a quarter they returned a verdict agamsl Eraser of qmilty on all counts. Fitzgerald was found not guiUy. The jury added a.rider expressing regret at the fact that, althpugh betting on totalisator odds was illdfeoj, use was allowed o bo made, of the public service to facilitate such be.Uihgv His Honour agreed with the expression of opinion contained in the ruler.. He remanded Fraser till to-morrow for sentence.

taißiSß SKNTKNXW TO 2 YEARS , . REFORMATIVE TREAIMEM.

/ (Peb Prebb Association.) fi WELUN.GtQN, ftov. 15. i Fiwl 0 Fraser, found guilty ot certkpiung to defraud and of 'attempting to ol>!tain monev wiitlcr Hdso pretences, *yus [sc.nfcon«d ifl-dnv fo two years reformative '■detention, and'lo bo sqnfc to Xaji}g|irOT. fL'ha Chief stiul lii* wouW bring the Use boforu hoard at an. early tiafc. The lioaul might grant •' probation biter a time- ~ .;' - ; -