CONSPIRING TO DEFRAUD

Timaru Herald, Volume CIII, Issue 15741, 27 August 1915, Page 9

CONSPIRING TO DEFRAUD

BY BOGUS TELEGRAMS. RELATING TO BETS. Iu the Magistrate's Court at Waimate yesterday, before Mr Y. G. Day, S.M., Edward' Owen McMurtrie, telegraphist, AYaimate, and Alison. Moore (married), Waimate, were jointly charged with conspiring to defraud H. Cox, of Ohristeliurch, and W. Wheeler, of Christchurch. Mr Lucas appeared for both accused. Sub-Inspector Sheehan prosecuted, and was assisted l\v Detectivei Fahey. James C. Talbot, chief clerk of the Telegraph Department, stated that on 21st July lie received instructions to investigate the charge. He niterviewed McMurtrie, who made a c.can breast of the offence, and said no was sorry. He then got from him two statements (put in). Robert Cox, bookmaker's agent (agent for ,J. Walsh, Christchurch) gave evidence that about 7th July he received a letter from J. Moore, Waimate, •enclosing a- cheque- for £4 in reference to the Timaru trots to he run next day. The letter said ' Instructions by wire later." On Bth July he received a telegram from J. Moore '"Put funds on Sim God.'*' That was the name of a trotter starting in the big cv e ut at Timaru, and it von. The telegram was handed iu at 1.45 p.m., and finished at the Christchu'ch office at 2.40. He became suspicious because of the long time in transit, and applied to bo allowed to see the original wire. He had had previous transactions with John Moore-. Mr Lucas objected that Mr r.fo<re was not in the case. Continuing, witness said tho cT.cial time for starting tho race in question was 1.50 p.m. Had tiio matter been , in order ho should have paid o'lfc on \ the telegram. Had never received j any application from Moore for ri vi- | dend. but returned the £4, less amount due on other transactions. William Henry Wheeler, bookmaker, Timaru, said that just before Bth July last he received a note from J. Moore, j Waimate, forwarding a cheque for £3, saying " will send instructions later." | On Bth July got a telegram, "Funds I iu hand on Sun God.'' signed J. Moore. • Letter and telegram had been destroyed. Afterwards he got a. letter from 3looro claiming proceeds of | money invested on Sun God. MeanI while witness had heard talk of m- , quiries being made, and replied Mating that such was the case, and the money remained in his hanking account. i James Fahey, detective, stated that. ,<m stli August he interviewed McMurtrie in Waimate, and he made the j voluntary statement. He also inter- ! viewed Mi- and Mrs Moore. Mfo- ! Murtrie told witness that Mrs Moore ! calied him across the road from the Criterion Hotel and said, "Do you I want to mako some money?" McMurtrie said "Yes." Mrs Moore then I suggested that McMurtm should manipulate some wires. She said, "I will write out wires addressed to Ckristchurch,". etc. McMurtrie said that the Arrangement was that Mrs Moore was to put in the telegrams, and ho was to hold them bade. She would telephone him immediately she laiew—at the counter. He was then to send tho bogus wires. She was to give him some of the x>rocecds. McMurtrie said he held back the wires fifteen minutes. Ho received wires of this natare addressed to four different ► bookmakers. McMurtrie said he never ■ thor.ght of doing this .of his . own ■ accord; it was Mrs Moore who sug- : gested it to him. He liad received £2 10s on one occasion and £5 on another . from her. Mr Moore never came into ; the arrangement. Witness then saw * Mr and Mrs Moore in McMurtrie'.s [ presence, .and Mrs Moore made a voluntary statement. On Bth July [ McMurtne came to h<*r shop between . 12 and 1.30 p.m. When rhey were I talking in the shop she asked him to , send some wires for her, and gave him [ tho names of tho addressees. oik> was _ ti Harry Pine; it read: •'Funds jin I hand on." She did not then write 'in j "Sun God" Later in the day she i i-ang up McMurtrie at tho Post Office I counter and told him to fill in "Sun

God." She had asked him to keep the wire back. She gave Mc-Murtrie wires to four different addressees, all containing the words: 'Funds in hand on,"'" and lie was to fill them all in similarly. She gave him £5. lie having called and asked for monev, as he had accounts to pay. She wrote a cheque for. that amount, and gave it tn her husband to cash. She had paid McMurtrie 2s, the cost of the telegrams. She denied that sh© waved lier band to him to come over to her shop. Mrs Moore also told witness that on Bth July her husband was in Timaru, and lie telegraphed, "Back the horse I told you." She said she knew Sun God would win. "Witness added that he was present at ihe t races on Bth .luly. and Sim God won i the Timaru Handicap, paying £6 4s I dividend. Both accused were committed for trial at Timaru on 30th insv