£400 ON ‘MORAL’ WINNER

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1935, Page 7

£400 ON ‘MORAL’ WINNER

SEQUEL IN POLICE COURT Alleged agent of bookmakers. FALSE PRETENCES ADMITTED. BET ON CADLAND AT BULLS RACES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Alexander Wallace Copley, aged 37, who was arrfekted at 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 and, alternatively, with obtaining £466 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 the person he Introduced to Johnstone in a hotel in Auckland was a representative of Scott And Martindal", alleged to be Bookmakers kt Wellington, that £4Oo was to be Placed on Cadland arid that he (Copley) had already placed a bet of £450 on the same horse.

Copley pleaded guilty to the false pretences charge and Was committed for Sentence. The other charge was Withdrawn. The witnesses included Henry Martindale, commission figent of Wellirigtdfl, Who said hte knew nothing) of tHfi accused, and Detective Slater, who said that Copley Admitted duping Johnstone, Whom he first met at the Pukekohe show. Copley said he shared the money with another mfiri, an Englishman; who had left NPW ZteMahd. Evidence was giVen by Warneford Johnstone, who said he Was unmarried find fi farther. .He said he attended the Pukekohe show on February 16. He knew Copley by sight and met him at a “ball game” find was intrdduced By Hifri to a man named Ryan. After losing mbney fit the "ball game” Johnstone went away to borrow money, Copley abcbiripahylrig him. Copfey gave his name aS James CraWley. At th'e ‘ ball game” in compariy With Ryan find Copley, Johnstone lost £25. He went to Auckland on business on March 4. rffe met Ryaii find Copley outside a hotel. MEETING AT AUCKLAND; ‘‘They said they had some good information,” said Johnktone, “and, as ‘their information was aIV/Oys good, they bet very heavily. As thby would get the information overnight thfiy said they would meet me at 16 o’clbtk next morning.” The appoiritmeril was kept; Said Copley, and they had drinks at ah hotel. Copley ■purchased three cigars, one for. bach man. Thfey theri Went to another hotel, where they had the “uSUaI found bf drinks. Copley fibid thfey had rfeceivbd the ffifofmatibh. A telephone call camfe for Copley fit thfe hotel find hfe asked to ■ bfe excused arid Was away for about a-quar-ter of an Hour. . “On his feturh life asked me if I would like, to be in as everything was all right) said Johnston®; “I khew What he was referring to. I hesitated but he said Ryan was going tb place a lot of money on and he was gbirig tb do .so himsfeffi Ryan said he was gbiiig to place £l6OO on his information but no horse Was mentioned.” .. . At another hotel to Which they went Coblev met another man Whom he seemed to know- Copley introduced this man to Johnstone but he could hot remember the man’s name. The ntan was supposed to be the representative of a firm oi bookmakers and he was to accept bettmgon behalf of Ryan, Copley and Johnstone. , J’. , Copley appeared to -Write a cheque which he handed to the. fourth man supposed to be the' representative of the bookmakers. . “Ryan later said he had placed his bet, said Johnstone, “and he advised us to place ours before the bookmaker got cold’ Copley said he had placed £450 and'asked me if I were not going to place £4OO on it.” , 4,. . Copley said the money Was Cadland, which was to run in the Rahgi tikei Cup at Bulls on the following day. Johnstone staid he Wrote but a chfeqtie for £4OO which he handed to the supposed bookmakers’ representative on Copleys advice.