TAKING DOWN A COWMAN

NZ Truth, Issue 540, 23 October 1915, Page 7

TAKING DOWN A COWMAN

Three Tricksters m Trouble

"The Game They Played at the Club."

(From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.)

Arthur Webb, a young man from Picton, blew into the dour burgh and encountered three gentleman who invited him for a game of cards to the Gladstone pubbery. As a result of the game the three select gentlemen, Jack Earnshaw, Leslie Leroy, and Fred Hllder, found themselves iv the dock* of the Magistrate's Court last week facing young Webb, who decorated the other box. The three accused wore charged with conspiring together to relieve Webb of a sum of money. They pleaded not guilty and were represented by Lawyer lrwin. Arthur, Webb, the complainant, informed his Worship Mr. H. L. Younp, 5.M,,, that he arrived m. Dunedin oi\ October 4 by the afternoon express train from Christchurch. While on the train he saw the three accused playing cards together, and he and Earnshaw exchanged some conversation. Later on next day at; the Post Onice, Dunedin, Earnshaw again bobbed across him, asking witness to direct him to the "Farmers' Company," saying ho was a stranger hero, and that he was down after a MILKING MACHINE FOR HIS FATHER. Witness did not know where the "Farmers' Company" was, or anything about such a concern. Earnshaw tnsn asked him over to John Collins "Gladstone," where they would moet a certain gent who would further discuss the mutter re the milking machine. As witness went with the accused Earnshaw over to the Gladstone, they mot the other two accused coming out, Leslie L«roy, and Fred Hilder. Theso gentry spoke to Earnshaw, and Leroy m reply said that the gent with the milking machine had eloiured. Whereupon witness was requested to walk into the sitting room of the pub nnd take a chnlr. Ho went, and "the cobbexs introduced one anothoir." One was a fanner's son, tho otter an indent agent, and Hildcr was & cqmmorclal traveller. They had cigars and booze, and Leroy produced a pack of cards. Earnshaw then supplied his namo as Arthur O'BrJen. When Leroy produced the cards ho remarked, they "would play the game thfey played at the club." Witness thought uf-^ tor that, for a while, that he was m very select company. Witness told tho obliging clubmen that ho did uot know how to play cards, and never had played a cord game m his natural. At which the select gentry wero considerably amazed, and would not believe It. Earnshaw put the cards towards him. and he "cut"' them, and (he three cobbers then did the same. Tho play commenqed, but witness did not know what he was playing. After a whllo Leroy went out and

FETCHED IK FOUR STOUTS, ono of which wag placed In front of him. Witness was surprised »3 he hntl not drank a bottle of stout for years, and he never had had ono previously m a pub. Nevertheless, ho tacklod If, and went on with the play. When witness had managed his drink, Earushuw said that witness "uwed tho pool £4!" He «Ud he hadn't £4 on him, but he had 6s, which ho handed to Eurnshaw. When they wild he owed £4 to the pool, ho said ho had not been playing for money. Their demeanor changed) and he began to get afraid, nnd the drink he had taken began to affect him considerably. Wo much so that he just recollected, handing over the 6», and getting up. He told Kurnshaw he wax golnp outsido, and Karnahaw followed him and said, "If you have not got tho money now, meet me at the Q.P.Q., at 4 p.m., and fetch the coin with you," He said ho would bo there. An ho went down Rattray-stretit, ho felt very funny, so he called on Chemist Bcho.field, and jjot some medicine. The modlclno relieved him considerably, and ho gradually felt better. At 4 p.m. he went back to tho P.O. with the money to meet Earnshaw, hut the latter did not turn up. Eventually he found his way to the police station, and lodged a complaint ngtilnut tho three accused. Lawyer Jrwin: What age are you?— I'll bo 21 at Christmas. Then YOU ARE A CIIRISTMAS BOX? — Yos, sir, and a good ono! What do you work at? — I was on a cow job at Flcton. How did the milking machine crop up with you and ISnrnshaw? — Well, 1 thought I was talking to a cow -man liku myftelf. and when he mentioned tho milking machine 1 waa Interested. Why did you play cards at the GladHtone? — Bocauao I wa» afraid of the I accused. I did not like their looks. Did you Phout at all? — No. Nor put any money to the pool?— There was no money m tho pool at all. till I forked out my Cs. Benjamin SeholUMd, chemM. slated that Wwt'b called ut hU? shop, and seemed 111 and much nffttnUul. Sfawiut silly looking »nd mumbled about uoinothlng. His condition *o Impressed witness that ho gave him 'a pick-rne-up." A ghuta of htoul couM not put him m thrt queer condition h« was m, Wltneaa belJewd il wit« poaslblo to produeo the ctttci us exhibited by Webb by means of n drug. } Isabella Coltlnji said that when th* j three ueeus«*d n-ached her father's ho« i tfl. they nppearod to hh mut<?s. Tho | names they jjnvt* m tht» book wore l<e- I roy. Ashcroft and Hliaw. They »pent | money occn*lon»lly m the hotel. j John COriKcoH, wild that neither of | (he acciitfid p«id Un-ir board, but hud ! i l«»fi their luggage n« securvty. Shaw ! or Earn* hay <!Ut not e«m 10 b<» short | of money; he fieom«ul to have plenty of i nionoy. j iK'-ieetlvo lliimnierlcy r<*h\te«J tljn*, , with Chf*'f'd<"lrciivo Hlrthup. ho went '; rii U>« CJjaiid llol«?l corner, mid found . I-oroy and UiUtor m ih« | COMPANY iW A CO.S'VICTICD TIIIKK j named Kolby. alliirt Hoddyr. Ht»- • i Lawyer Irwln objected to ihi» ••\i>-

dence, and the S.M. upheld the objection. Continuing, th c detective said that he liad occasion to put Hilder oft the Kurow raoocourso at the last meeting. Questioned m the- detective office Leroy said he was a farmer's son from T«» ■ Kuiti, and Hilder said he was a contractor from the same locality. Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of their answers, witness arrested them and charged them. with the prosenc offence. Earnshaw was arrested m the Gladstone, and when cautioned and questioned, denied being with the other accused or with Webb m the hotel at alt. I Chief-detective Bishop corroborated, and said as he did not know either of the accused, Leroy and Hilder, he ask!ed them for an explanation. They both gave their names, and said they had nothing further to say. They gave a somewhat fuller statement saying they j were from Te Kuiti. but their explanu"- --| tions being unsatisfactory they were arrested. Later, Earnshaw was* arres- ! ted, and he said to witness, "I neither i deny nor, admit anything. I leave all m the hands of my solicitor." In a coat claimed by Leroy was the pack of cards produced which Leroy claimed. | .Lawyer lrwin said it would be waste ;of time to sond those men for trial. I Complainant was either mistaken or, concocting. , He .did not look as if the had been taken down at all. If It wero anything at all it was a case of theft, and very different conditions would apply. The S.M. said that a prime lacle caso had been made out. Accused reserved their defence nnd were committed for trial to the Supreme Court. ......