FALSE PRETENCES

Otago Witness, Issue 3415, 29 August 1919, Page 42

FALSE PRETENCES

AUCKLAND. Augpt 25. Two charges of having obtained £9 and £3 from Terence Curno "by false pretences were heard against Herbert Lipsham before Mr Wilson, S.M., in the Police Court. The false pretences alleged were that the accused had had telegraphic communication with and from the well-known jockey Jack O'Shea, respecting the winning chances of certain racehorses named respectively Pleasant Mount and Beeswing, then due to compete at the Metropolitan trots at Christchurch, and Gang Awa' and Battle Array at the Canterbury Jockey Club's race meeting at Riccaxton early this month. Curno stated that he and the accused arrived in Auckland early this month. As. the result of statements made by the accused respecting tips which he had received from O'Shea, who, he said, was riding at Christchurch, witness gave him nine pounds to back certain horses. He received no dividends, and later found out that O'Shea was not in the country when the meetings were held. The police evidence went to show that O'Shea did not participate at either meeting. The accused said that h e had been a racehorse owner, and was consequently "well up" in racing matters. It was from o'Shea's punter, and not direct from the jockey, that he got his tips. At first he denied that Curno had given him money, but later he admitted it. The Magistrate accepted Curno's version of the transaction, and sentenced the accused to threo months' imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent. Lipsham was also charged with being a military deserter, and he was ordered to be handed over to the military authorities at the expiration of his term of imprisonment.