PUNTER DUPED

Southland Times, Issue 25311, 14 June 1935, Page 7

PUNTER DUPED

CHARGE OF FALSE PRETENCES.

“MORAL FOR CUP EVENT.”

(Per United Press Association.) Auckland, June 13.

Alexander Wallace Copley, aged 37, arrested in Wellington, was charged to-day that at Auckland on March 5, he conspired with James Ryan and another unknown man to defraud Warneford Johnstone of £4OO, also, alternatively, with obtaining £4OO by the pretence that he had received information that the racehorse Cadland was a “moral” to win the Rangitikei Cup at Bulls on March 6. that a person he introduced to Johnstone in a hotel in Auckland was a representative of Scott and Martindale, bookmakers of Wellington, that £4OO was to be placed on Cadland, and that he (Copley) had already placed a bet of £450 on the same horse. The witnesses include Henrv Martindale, commission agent of Wellington, who said he knew nothing of the accused, and Detective Slater, who said accused had admitted duping Johnstone, whom he first met at Pukekohe Show.

Accused said he shared the money with another man, an Englishman, who had since left New Zealand. Accused said he would plead guilty to the false pretence charge if the conspiracy charge were withdrawn. This the police agreed to do. Evidence was given by Warneford Johnstone, who said he was unmarried and a farmer. He said he attended the Pukehoe Show on February 16. He knew accused by sight and met him at a “ball game” and was introduced by him to a man named Ryan. After losing money at the ball game, he went away to borrow money, accused accompanying him. Accused gave his name as James Crawley. At the ball game in company with Ryan and accused he lost £25. Coming to Auckland on business on March 4, he met Ryan and accused outside a hotel.

“They said they had some good information,” said witness, “and as their information was always good they bet very heavily as they would get information overnight, they said they would meet me at 10 o’clock next morning.”

Tlie appointment was kept, stated witness, and they had drinks at a hotel. Accused purchased three cigars, one for each. They then went to another hotel where they had the “usual round of drinks.” Accused said they had received the information. A telephone call came for accused at the hotel and he asked-to be excused and was away for about a-quarter of an hour. “On his return he asked me if I would like to be in as everything was all right,” said witness. “I knew what he was referring to. I hesitated, but he said Ryan was going to place a lot of money on and he was going to do so himself. Ryan said he was going to place £lOOO on his information, but no horse was mentioned.” At another hotel to which they went accused met another man whom he seemed to knowAccused introduced this man to witness, but he could not remember the man’s name. The man was supposed to be a representative of a firm of bookmakers and he was. to accept betting on behalf of Ryan, accused and witness. Accused appeared to write a cheque which he handed to the fourth man, the supposed representative of the bookmakers.

“Ryan later said he had placed his bet,” said witness, “and he advised us to place ours before the bookmaker got cold. Accused said he had placed £450 and asked me if I were not going to place £4OO on it.” Accused said the money was going on Cadland which was to run in the Rangitikei Cup at Bulls the following day. Witness said he wrote out a cheque for £4OO which he handed to the supposed bookmaker’s representative on accused’s advice. Accused pleaded guilty to the charge of obtaining money by false pretences and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. The charge of conspiracy was withdrawn by the police.