Winners Were Often Backed by Telegram

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 793, 14 October 1929, Page 11

Winners Were Often Backed by Telegram

CONSPIRACY CHARGE

DOUBLE-FIGURE BETS Press Association GISBORNE. Today. When the hearing of the charges against William McKinnon and Wallace Fountain, of conspiring to defraud Arthur Yeo, alleged bookmaker, by means of forged telegrams, was con tinned this morniug. Yeo gave evidence of numerous £lO and £2O bets made by telegrams signed “Symons, the majority of the bets beiug on winners. Owing to the difference in the time of lodgment and receipt of the telegram wagering £2O on Flying Prince, which paid a two-figure dividend, witness asked the department to make inquiries. Some years ago he refused to ai cept bets with McKinnon, as he had failed to settle. Had he known "Symons’* was really McKinnon, he would not have taken the bets. Leslie Illingworth, a telegraphist, stated that telegrams on August IB placing wagers on Membo were dispatched by him at 5.3. The counter clerk's time showed they had been received at 4.39, a delay of 24 minutes Cross-examined, witness stated that slight delays sometimes occurred, but not 24 minutes, particularly when only two other telegrams had been dispatched during the afternoon. Another telegraphist, William Arthur Rauch, stated that a telegram. "Black Mint.” was telegraphed by him on August 15 at 5.5, although the counter clerk's time was 4.37. A delay of 2S minutes was exceptional. He thought it occurred either at the counter or in the shute. Charles David Panckhurst. also a telegraphist, stated that at 5 p in. on August 15, 10 or 12 telegrams were sent from the counter at once. The wire was clear at the time, and be distributed the messages for dispatch, i noticing at the time that Black : Mint” was one of, them. (Proceeding. >