Tipster and Racing Specials
AUSTRALIAN FINED £3O MUST LEAVE NEW ZEALANID AUCKLAND, May 27. After paying a line of £3O, a young man who recently arrived here from Australia and started a scheme whereby, in return for payments of £l, he would give punters the name of a horse specially “sot” for a race, was ordered by Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., in the Police Court to-day, to leave New Zealand forthwith and not return within two years. Raymond Dennison, aged 24, pleaded guilty to five summons charges of sending circulars to persons with intent to induce them to apply to “K. Burke” with a view to obtaining advice for the purpose of wagering on horse races. He was represented by Mr. Robinson Detective-Sergeant McHugh, who prosecuted, produced one of the circulars sent out by Dennison, who arrived here from Australia towards the end of February. He said he had comC hero for a holiday, but shortly after his arrival he started the illegal scheme, which had far-reaching effects. “On his own admission he sent out 1,000 circulars each week," said Mr. McHugh.
(“Although he doesn't know the horses, ho says he was going to study form and would tip the g-ood ‘things to tho ‘mugs' who would send him £l. He says he got 20 replies a week.” Mr. Orr Walker: In his circular he says he would refund the £1 sent him if the horse ran unplaced.
“But he admitted to DetectiveSergeant Aplin that he had not refund ed any money,” replied Detective-Ser-geant McHugh. “Weekly ‘Special.’ ”
Extracts from the circulars sent out by defendant were as follows:—“Our Racing Service has inaugurated a new service, it is a weekly special released on the main Saturday fixture and carries with it a money-back guarantee. For tho Waverley Racing Club’s meet ing next Saturday, April 27, our Racing Service will be releasing one horse onl}'. This candidate has been especially *sct ; for the event. The horse will pay a big dividend and is a sure trier. He has shown in his trials that he is far above the opposition, but he will not be a popular fancy with the public. The fee for this extra special is £l, with the genuine guarantee that your £1 will be refunded in full should the horse fail to return a dividend."
“This young man has been trimming the mugs here,” Detective-Sergeant McHugh said, “and he has been using a Post Office box to assist him in carrying out the fraud. I will ask that the maximum penalty be imposed, as this sort of thing has been on the increase and there has been an influx of this type of person to this country." “Stranger Led Astray”
Mr. Robinson said Dennison was making his first appearance before any Court. He arrived here from Australia on February 19 on holiday. While at Ellerslie racecourse he saw an advertisement on tho back of a turf publication inviting persons to send 10s for a special bet. In Australia tipping on horse races was widely practised. Dennison thought tipping could also bo done in Auckland. He carried his scheme out honestly and fairly and communicated with those whoso horses had lost, when they agreed to allow tho £1 to remain on for another race,” added counsel. “Dennison's second tip won. There has never been any suggestion of fraud in his methods. He made little out of tho scheme. He is leaving the country to-day and has no desire to return."
“The worst feature of his offence was that he claimed he would release the name of the horse that was * set' in return for £1 and that if it did not win the money would be refunded," said Mr. Orr Walker. “The idea of telling those mugs—for mugs they were who would swallow such a thing—indicated that it was all squared for a particular horso to win. It was a way of getting money practically under false pretences. In any case persons could not very well get their money back for the only address he gave was a postal box. And he is not “It. Burke," which is only an assumed name. I'm afraid I cannot take him to be tho innocent youth from Australia that his counsel says he is. Ho is liable to a fine of £SO, or a term of three months' imprisonment. I suppose we’ll be pleased to see him go away from this country, after he pays a fine of £50." Dennison was also convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if callod upon within two years and ordered to leave New Zealand forthwith and remain away during the period of two years.
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Bibliographic details
Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 126, 29 May 1940, Page 4
Word Count
781Tipster and Racing Specials Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 126, 29 May 1940, Page 4
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