BETTING ON "TOTE" ODDS.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13381, 2 April 1912, Page 7

BETTING ON "TOTE" ODDS.

INDEMNITY FOR BETTING-

INFORMERS.

[Unites Press Association.]

Wanganut, April 1

A case of considerable! importance to •bookmakers was heard to-day before the local Magistrate. A fe wweeks ago a punter named Crane quarrelled with a bookmaker named Blame, and informed the police that Blame was betting at "tote" odds. Blame was prosecuted and convicted on Crane's evidence. Crane applied to the Magistrate for a. certificate of indean--; nity, but Mr. Mackay, Blame's counsel, objected on the ground that such certificates could not be granted in respect of the betting informers'. The Magistrate agreed, arid ..refused to grant the certificate. Blame then laid an information, against Crane for aiding and abetting in "tote" betting. Tho information was hoard to-day, Mr. Mackay tendering as his solo evidence statements m-ada by Crane in the Court. Mr. Cohen, who appeared for Crano, caused considerable amusement by an ironical eulogy of Blame as a moral reformer. Ultimately Crane Sva-s convicted and fined -Co and costs. The re stilt will be an increased difficulty in obtaining evidence in such cases. The police state1 that they will apply to tho Department for a grant to recoup Crane, who gave his -evidence .solely on the condition that he was indemnified.