WIRING OF TELEPHONES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20556, 6 May 1930, Page 14

WIRING OF TELEPHONES

INTERFERENCE ALLEGED.

SEQUEL TO POLICE RAID.

RECENT BOOKMAKING CASE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —I'RESS ASSOCIATION.] NAPIER, Monday.

A charge of wilfully interfering with tho telephone wires at his residence was preferred against Arthur Joseph Yeo in the Napier Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr. A. M. Mowlern, S.M. Accused's wife was similarly charged. Yeo elected to bo tried by a jury, but his'wife elected to bo dealt with summarily. Evidenco was given that Mrs. Yeo was tho owner of tho house, and the lessee of two telephones. An employee of tho Post and Telegraph Department said he had found wires leading from the telephone lead-in wires and attached to two cup hooks in tho bathroom. If a piece of metal wero placed across these wires at this point the telephones would be put out of order.

Witness said ho had also found that wires had been tapped between tho insulators and tho lightning guard, and led down through a recess by the chimney. They were connected with two switches in a cupboard in tho kitchen. By anyone manipulating these switches tho telephones could bo rendered inoperative or normal at will.

Evidence was given to the effect that after a readjustment of tho telephones several messages in connection with betting had been received by Detective-Ser-geant Fitzgibbon, who also described the wiring system. Tho detective-sergeant stated, in answer to the magistrate, that the charge had been brought against Mrs. Yeo because she was tho owner of the house and tho lessee of the telephones. Tho discovery of interference with the wires was made during aj police raid in connection with a bookmaking charge, on which Yeo recently was heavily fined. No evidence was given for the defence, and the magistrate reserved his decision.