ALLEGED CONSPIRACY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18381, 23 April 1923, Page 9

ALLEGED CONSPIRACY.

IDENTITY OF A TROTTER.

FRAUD CHARGES HEARD.

[BY TELEGBAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DCHEDrST. Saturday. ; Two men, Archibald Campbell Sim and James Proctor Nicholson, were charged at the Police Court to-day with having, at Brydone, on February 1, conspired to defraud the Tapanui Racing Club by entering the trotting mare Dora Derby in the Dominion Handicap at Tapanui racing meeting as Traylace. There was a second charge of obtaining £54 in the same connection by false pretences, John Bellamy Norris, secretary of the New Zealand Trotting Association, Christchurch, said he received an application from Davis for registration or the trotting mare Traylace. The mare was duly registered, everything being in order. At an inquiry Nicholson made a statement that Sim had told him that the mare was placed where no human hands could touch it. He also stated that a person in Gore had said that Sim had stated that he could find the mare at any time. Nicholson stated that he had copied the letter submitted to him by Sim in which it was said that the horse had broken its i leg. This letter Nicholson had signed in his own name and sent it to Mr. Black. Nicholson admitted that he had made a great mistake in doing this. He said that after his farm (which the Sim brothers had been working) reverted to him, Archie Sim remained on and worked for him. It was afterwards that he told Sim he was going to ring the mare in. Ha was to split the mare's ear and get the tail docked. Nicholson saw the result of these operations. He said that the mare was trucked by Grant to Brydone. Nicholson put £2 on Traylace at Tapanui, including 10s for others, with a person he thought was a- bookmaker in Gore. Nicholson was summoned to attend the inquiry. Sim was also summoned to ; appear, but he did not do so. Alfred Jones (Winton) said he knew Dora Derby's performances. He had experience in handicapping.. If Dora Derby had to be handicapped for the Dominion Handicap he would have handicapped her at 3.35 (that was 15 seconds behind Traylace). That would be 180 yds. Witness went on to give the results of a number of events in. which Dora Derby had run. Traylace had been handicapped as a maiden. Witness saw Traylace win :at Tapanui by several lengths. He could not say that it was under pressure. She did not look as if she had the race won until the finish. - Detective Beer said that on January 22 he interviewed Sim regarding the running of Traylace at Tapanui in February, 1922. He made a statement, a summary of which was that he and Nicholson had seen Dora Derby running and decided to, buy her. Nicholson knew Black, and it was agreed that an introduction should take place. The mare was bought for - £240, Nicholson financing the ; transaction. The mare was taken to his brother's farm. She had 1 been described as a maiden, and was nominated .as Traylace at Tapanui. She had won and paid about £4. ; He rode her himself. Suspicion became strong as to the identity of the mare, and it was decided to get rid of her, and that was. done. Witness also read a statement made by Nicholson as to the part had taken hi the transaction,. He was not too keen, but he consented to go to Forbury in connection with the purchase; of the mare. He did not want to, take any part in the underhand work Sim was engaged in. ■ ■ i : .,:- ■' Mr. Bundle, S.M., said he was not g«?g to criticise the matter in detail. The fact was that the mare had been nominated' in the name of\ the accused for a number of races,:-but .that' did not necessarily show that Nicholson was connected with it. He did not intend to say there was a prima facie case made out. ■ The accused reserved their defence y and were committed for trial, bail being allowed. v ' ' ; ,: V" '.'■' '■-:■•' '■■ ■'.'••' '"'': ";";h ; ,"; IJ —