A GUESSER GAOLED.

NZ Truth, Issue 198, 3 April 1909, Page 5

A GUESSER GAOLED.

A WASTER THAT LIVED ON HIS WITS. McGavin and the Mug. A Three Months' Stretch.

David Thomas McGavin is a cute curious cove who knows how to dbdge work with the greatest of- ease, and he also prides himself on being able to pick out a mug as quickly as anyone, for being a race-course guesScr the McGavin bloke naturally lives on his wits, otherwise by taking down mugs. David ! Thomas habitually frequents racecourses and is a constant visitor to Wellington, and naturally his carcase Ts well known to the copmen of this nternal city of the wowser" brotherhood. Mcuavin blew into Wellington on Sunday last per medium of the U.S.S, Co.'s Maori from Lyttelton and was accompanied by a cove called Georgeson and a tart named Oissie O'Neil. McGavin, as it subsequently transpired, was not m possession of much "rhino" but still tnis u'.u not prevent him from putting on dog. But McGavin was not allowed to put on dog for long,- as having "put the acid" on A NEW CHUM IRISH MUG he fell into the strong arm of the law, m the person of Acting 'Tec. Andrews, and made his appearance at Beak Riddell's regular reception on Wednesday. Chief 'Tec. Broberg caused McGavin to be led like a lamb to the dock, and Mr Ayson used his kindly ouices m looking after the innocent. ' . Edward jjasey, an agricultural laborer, stated-.-).. that/, he had. only, recently a.r-: rived m Godsbw.nlumtry from' Ireland, and, .indeed, he looked it, tor "green" was plainly written across his mug. Uasey stated that he could neither read or write, but a pal told him that an advertisement appeared m the "Evening Post" of the 'Mih March lor a farm hand, application tor the job to be made at the Trocadero. To the Troc. accordingly went . Casey and asked to see the genial farmer who wanted a laborer. Accused and another man came out of the dining-room and accused came towards Casey 'and said, "That is tub man who wants a farm .hand," pointing to his mate, who said, "m leave it all to you." Accused then sized the Irishman, up and said, "He . looks; like a steady, hard-working chap, and it is hard to find an experienced man who. understands the work." Accused' then suggested to his mate that he should give Oasey a show. After a few words had passed between accused and his mate McGavin told Casey that the farm wps at Taihape, and that he had better be at the Maiiawatu Station at 7.30 the following, morning. He also told Casey that His mate would pay . his fare to Taihape but that the amount would subsequently be deducted from his w,ages. Then the cute McGavin started to work on the gullibility of the greenhorn from Ireland by telling him he was a land and station agent arid had inserted' the advertisement m the "Post" foi which he bad paid five shillings and looked to Casey to reimburse him that amount. Casey gave' him three shillings, telling' him. that he would have to draw oh the bank for the remainder and agreed to meet the "land agent" at 4-30 when he would pay the balance. Casey turned up, and like a true born Irish gentleman, paid the" two bob. 'Tec. Connolly then entered the witness .-box and stated that he hau Known McGavin for a number of years. During the last three years McGavin had, to his knowledge, been following THE OCCUPATION OF A RACIiCOURSE GUESSER, and had done no work during that time.. Accused belonged to a respectable family m Dunedin but they had kicked him out and would have nothing to do with him. In reply to Mr Aysdn, the 'Tec. said that .McGavin- had been going about the country shows with a man named Harry Pearce, helping him with wrestling exhibitions. ; 'Tee. oassells had a word to say ; he had also known McGavin for twelve months, during which time he had been making his living as a racecourse guesser. . .' : Acting 'Tec. Andrews stated that he had known McGavin for six months and had not known him to do any work. McGavin arrived m Wellington on Sunday last from the -South m company with a man named Georgeson and a prostitute named Cissie O'Neil. Accused had been living at the Trocadero with a thief named Kennedy^ and he (Andrews) had had occasion to interview -Kirn m regard to r thefts from bedrooms which had been "barbered." Cross-examined by Mr Ayson, Andrews said that he not only suspected McGavin but was positive that he had , committed the thefts, and might yet be charged with the offence. After Casey had laid a complaint, witness arrested McGayin, and on searching him found he had one penny m his possession. For the defence, McGavin stated that be had received .£ls m December '. from Mr Lundon at Auckland which had been sent to him by his mother. He! had also -received £5~ from , a man named Wright when he was m Palmerston North. In addition, he had earned money from Harry Pearce. Georgeson also owed him £4. In reply to the Chief 'Tec, McGavin stated:' that he was with Georgeson the previous day, but did not get the £4 from him as he never asked- for it. Did not know that Georgeson has informed the police he did not owe him anything, and did not know that Georgeson had j left for the South the previous night. He

[assisted Pcarce by wrestling. ' j "WRESTLING WITH WHAT ! BEER ?" asked the Chief { .Tee. His Worship expressed his disapproval j' of this style of cross-examination. ' Continuing bis evidence, m reply to the { Chief 'Tec, McGavin said he came to j Wellington on Sunday last. He did not ; know a prostitute named Cissie ' O'Ncil. j He knew a girl named Cissie O'Neil, hut j she was not a prostitute ; she came of j respectable people at Falmerston North, i Re-examined by Mr Ayson, McGavin j denied having inserted any advt. m the i "Post," but" said Casey claimed him, j and demanded ss. He had an interest m ;' a brewery at Dunedin, which was left to \ him m his father's "will. Money and pap- :' ers bad been sent' to Jerry Lnndon at j Auckland for him. ;' To Chief 'Tec. Broberg : Pie could not ' say what the brewery was worth. He ' had been convicted as a stowaway and got one month. The money was sent to i Mr Lundon so that he could return to Dunedin to sign some papers. Witness was a bookmaker's clerk, but that was not another name for a race course guesser. ' : His Worship said he was of opinion that the evidence of the prosecution was sufficient to convict McGavin. He was not satisfied with McGavin's answers. "Has he got any other record against him?" . . Chief 'Tec. Broberg said that he had one conviction. He was, however, A WELL-KNOWN PEST all over the country. He mentioned this as he surmised that an application would be made to let him go to another part ; of the country, but he must oppose such an . application, as he would be just as big a nuisance wherever be went. . , Mr Ayson asked that McGavjn should jbe given., another chance. .1 His Worship said accused had had any number of chances. He would be convicted and sentenced to three months' i imprisonment with hard labor.