BOOKMAKERS AND THEIR CLIENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7267, 25 October 1910, Page 1

BOOKMAKERS AND THEIR CLIENTS

1 ALLEGED “WELSHING" BOOKMAKER CHARGED WITH THEFT AND OBSCENITY. Felice Court prosecutions arising out of transactions on the- Trentham racecourse are not imcommou sequences of lace meetings, and at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr AV. 0. Riddell. B~M., live charges, the outcome of certain alleged bids at Saturday’s races at Trentham, were preferred against a young man mimed Victor McDutf, alias Hubert Walter Watson. THE CHARGES. McDuff was charged with committing theft on the Trentham racecourse of (1) XI from J. Marshall, (2) A 1 from J. North. (:i) .£2 from Georgo Murphy, (-1) X2 from Richard Regan, and (5) with using obscene language on the course. Accused, who i>ieaded not guilty to all the charges, was defended by Mi* J. J. McGrath. Chief-Detective Broborg prosecuted. AD J 0 U RNMENT GRANTED. Mr McGrath asked for a remand till Wednesday. Ho stated that ho had only bfvii instructed the day before and had not been ablo to go into the case. Chief-Detective Broberg offered no objection. to the remand, but asked that the evidence of one witness, who was about to leave for Gisborne, bo taken. His Worship agreed to grant the remand after tho witness had been heard. “ SPOILING HIS CONNECTION.’' James Walden, racecourse detective, employed by the Wellington Racing Club, s-taked that McDuff was hot licensed to bet as a bookmaker at Wednesday’s meeting, but witness granted him a license on Saturday. Accused then gave Ills name as Robert Waiter Watson. Later in the day. when accused was cry.ing *tho odds, ho wa« recognised as ono McDuff,• who “scaled” the Hunt Club meetings nt Wanganui and llawk&’s Bay. On learning this, witness called accused down from his stand, and questioned him as 'to hits name and his reasons for obtaining a bookmaker’s license under ,a fictitious name. Accused did not deny “scaling” the meetings mentioned, but exclaimed, somewhat indignantly, “ You arc sxioillng my connection.”

The accused was remanded till tomorrow. Bail was allowed in £2O, and ono surety of a like amount.