POSED AS DETECTIVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18951, 24 February 1925, Page 12

POSED AS DETECTIVE.

QUEST FdR BOOKMAKERS. PROBATION TERM EXTENDED. " He may have a weakness for impersonation," said Mr. •). W. Poynton, S.M., when Frederick Walter McLennan, aged 22, was charged in the Police Court yesterday with having posed as a detective, Accused, who was represented by Mr. .J. J. Sullivan, pleaded not guilty. William James Combe said he met McLennan in a hotel at Otahuhu on Friday. Accused made a remark with reference to bookmaking and said: " I do not want you. I am after bigger game, so keep out of my way. lam a detective." Witness was not aware that any betting transactions had been taking place and did not understand what accused's comments referred toJoseph Farnworth stated accused said: " Were you accused of bookmaking ? " Witness replied in the alhrmative, and accused said: I am a detective from Dutiedin. 1 am going to the races tomorrow. You look out." Witness answered : " Thanks very much, but 1 finished betting three years ago." Sergeant Parsons said he received a telephone message front a stranger who asked him to call at the hotel to invest!' gate a mysterious matter. Witness met accused en route and McLennan said ho had sent the message as he had detected four men in the act of bookmaking in the hotel. He said a nest of " bookies " was doing good business and exhorted witness to: "Co in and arrest them." Crossquestioned by witness as to. his interest in the detection of the alleged " bookies," accused said he was working in the interest, of a society, and had been instructed by Chief Detective Cummings. Later he described himself as a private detective employed by the New Zealand Racing Conference. He said he was known throughout the Dominion. Mr. Sullivan: Unfortunately that is correct. Constable Pollard stated accused said he had been instructed by the Chief Detective and had located a group of bookmakers. Accused stated in evidence that Combe had invited him to take bets, and lie had answered: " Are you not running a risk? Suppose I am a detective." He also said "Do I look like a detective?" Later he communicated with the sergeant and told him it was his duty to round up the " bookies." He was actuated by public spirit. Mr. Poynton: He pretended to get others into a trap and fell into it himself. Council suggested that a conviction was not warranted. Mr. Poynton: He was admitted to probation in 1923 for posing as a doctor. He seems to have a mania for this sort of thing. There is no evidence of blackmail. If he had a sinister purpose he would not have communicated with the police. He was a little off his balance. The assistant probation officer said accused had been doing farm work since his last lapse, and had behaved well. The magistrate accordingly admitted him to a further term of 12 months' probation, and ordered him to pay cost^.