ALLEGED RINGING=IN CASE

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1929, Page 5

ALLEGED RINGING=IN CASE

POLICE COURT HEARING ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. REMARKABLE STATEMENTS READ. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, July 16. The hearing of the case of alleged • “ringing in,” in which Leslie Holland, aged 28, horse trainer, of Invercargill, • and Samuel Bates, aged 36, horse trainer of Orari, are concerned, began this morning. The original charge concerned an' alleged attempt at fraud at the Canterbury Park trotting meeting on June 3, by representing that the trotting horse Imperial Thorpe was not identical with Bruce. Seven other charges were preferred, alleging “ringing in” at the Ashburton, Gore Winton, Invercargill and Oamaru meetings. Two other men —Thomas Dowler, a saddler, and William Miller, alias Kerr were added to the accused, but the police stated that Miller had not yet been arrested. Chief-Detective Carroll said that a man named E. J. Smith advertised the horse Bruce for sale in January, 1928. A man named Miller bought it for £lOO. Hie signature was witnessed by another of the accused. “From then on Bruce disappeared,” said the chief-de-tective. “but a little after that Bates secured the registration of Imperial Thorpe. Imperial Thorpe was trained by Holland. Sometimes Holland rode it, sometimes Bates. Imperial Thorpe was seven times in the money, and it is in respect of those occasions that the prosecutions are laid. The stake money secured was over £4OO. A doubt was raised in the minds of the stewards, and the horse was identified as Bruce and impounded. Bruce was a very fast horse; its time for the mile was 2min. 11 sec. Imperial Thorpe was represented to be a maiden, and was given a much easier handicap than would have been given to Bruce. That is probably why ?t won so much.” Accused Dowler belonged to Timaru. Evidence identifying Imperial Thorpe with Bruce was given by E. J. Smith, former part owner of Bruce, who described the sale to a man calling himself Miller, and he identified the horse in the yard as Bruce. Another witness also identified the horse.

READ STATEMENTS-

Detective-Sergeant O'Brien read statements made to him by Holland, Bates and Dowler. Holland stated that the horse called Imperial Thorpe was, in fact, Bruce, and he related in detail all the dealings and activities of his associates and himself connected with the horse.

He said the horse was bought by William Miller, of Timaru, in January, 1928, from E. J. Smith. Miller’s true name was Kerr. The horse was sent to Dowler, who was a witness to the purchase and knew the horse was Bruce. Holland took the horse from Dowler to Dunedin and later kept him at the Taieri racecourse. Bates then obtained the. horse from him and took him to Oamaru and registered him in the name of Imperial Thorpe. Bates knew the horse was Bruce.

Holland added: “Bates and Kerr were in with me in this matter. Kerr did only the buying for us of this horse, Bates and I providing the cash. Kerr knew we were buying the horse to ring in and all he stood to get was information when we were trying to win so as to have a good bet on the horse.” Bates left Christchurch after the second lot of races at Ashburton in July, 1928, as he expected to win there, but he lost heavily. He went to Australia shearing, and came back in October, 1928. He put his money on the horse at Winton and lost his bet again. The only persons concerned in the ring in were Bates, Kerr and himself. Dowler knew the horse-was bought to ring in, but took no part other than witnessing the purchase of the horse. The result of the racing had been a loss to all concerned. Statements from Bates and Dowler were also read. They agreed in all essentials with Holland’s statement. This concluded the evidence and the charges of false pretences against Bates and Holland were withdrawn by leave of the court.

Each of the accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail of £2OO with a surety of £2OO was granted for Bates and Holland, Dowler being allowed bail on his own recognisance.