POSTAL CLERKS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143773, 23 April 1912, Page 2

POSTAL CLERKS.

CHARGED WITH FRAUD

Per Press Association.

PALMERSTON N., April 22.

At the Police Court this morning, Douglas Munro and Edward Baigent, employed at the Longburn post otiice, were charged with conspiracy to defraud Soott and Martindale of £3O.

Detective Siddolls briefly outlined the case against accused, stating that one of the accused had been at the Wanganui races and had got into telephonic communicatibn with the other accused at Longburn immediately after a race, telling him the name of the winning horse, Lady Moutoa, and the latter ante-timed a telegraphic message to Scott and Martindale, backing the horse.

Frederick Perrin, post office official from the General Post Office, Wellington, stated, that he had the Minister's authority to produce certain telegrams, which he did. One contained an instruction to back Lady Moutoa’s first start at Wanganui, The telegram would have to pass through the X J almerstou North office. It was timed 12.55 at the Longburn office. Witness had seen the accused at Longburn and told Munro that he wished to know the circumstances under which the telegram was transmitted. The latter made a written statement stating that the matter had been pre-arranged between himself and Baigent. A statement was also given by Baigent. The telegram was finished at Wellington at 1.26 p.m. Donald Robbins, assistant secretary to the Wanganui Jockey Club, stated that the first race at Wanganui started at eight minutes past 12, and was won by Lady Moutoa. She paid £ls 8s dividend on the totalisator. Henry Martindale, of Scott and Martindale, Wellington, asked it his firm received the telegram in question, declined to answer, on the ground that he might incriminate himself. Both accused reserved their defence and entered a plea of not guilty. They were committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. Bail was allowed in their own recognisances of £IOO each and two sureties m each case of £SO each.