BRUCE “RING-IN.”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18349, 21 August 1929, Page 9

BRUCE “RING-IN.”

BATES AND HOLLAND PLEAD GUILTY. CHARGE AGAINST DOWLER WITHDRAWN. (Special to the "Jerald.”) CHRISTCHURCH. August 20. Samuel Bat'3. Leslie Holland, and Thomas James Dowler appeared in the Supreme Court, before Mr Justice Adams, charged with “ringing-in," in connection with racing the trotting horse. In- erial Thorpe under the name of Bruce. In his charge to the Grand Jury, His Honour said charges of conspiring to defraud were made against three men. As to the first two. Samuel Bates and Leslie Holland, there were their own statements, and there was no doubt that they were actively concerned in some way with the horse. The case of the third man, Thomas James Dowler, however, vas somewhat different. It was said that the conspiracy consisted of saying that a horse entered for a race as Imperial Thorpe was Imperial Thorpe and not Bruce. As to Dowler, he did not seem to have anything to do with the running of the horse, but he was present when the other two bought the horse, and witnessed a signature. He appeared to have taken advantage of the knowledge he obtained to make one or two bets on the totalisator. with probably but little advantage to himself. That, however, could hardly be said to constitute conspiracy to defraud. It did not show that he had any connection with the entering or running of the horse. The Grand Jury returned a true bill i against the three accused. When the case was called before a common jury, Holland and Bates pleaded guilty, but Dowler pleaded not guilty. Mr Twyneham appeared for Bates and Dowler. Holland was undefended. Mr Donnelly. Crown Prosecutor, said that he did not intend to proceed with the charge against Dowler. Mr Justice Adams said that .on the evidence before the Lower Court he did not think there was a case to go to the jury against. Dowler. Mr Twyneham said that Dowler lived at Timaru. and was not in Christchurch. Mr Donnelly: “It does not matter. He can gc " His Honour said that Dowler could be released on Mr Twyneham’s undertaking that he would appear. It was a formal matter, as the records had to be cleared before a prisoner was dismissed. Bates and Holland were remanded for sentence until Thursday.