GAGOOLA CASE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 936, 5 December 1933, Page 10

GAGOOLA CASE.

Ring-in Mystery Sequel in Sydney. MAN BARRED FROM COURSES. “ You’re not wanted at Randwick or Warwick Farm, so keep out.” This is what the A.J.C. has said to a man who they' consider play'ed a prominent part in the notorious Gagoola ring-in case, states a Sydney writer. At a recent committee meeting the A.J.C. decided, after taking a good deal of evidence, to place an embargo on this man, and in future it will be the business of its chief detective, Torn Malone, and his staff to bundle him through the nearest exit (the paper adds ). The A.J.C. and the V.R.C. had something put over them when Gagoola was rung in at Flemington. Gagoola was taken to Warwick Farm, an A.J.C. property, and there worked in preparation for the attempted Flemington coup. This was certainly “ rubbing it H 1 The V.R.C. has never let up in its determination to bring to boot the crowd behind this equine mystery'. In July, 1932, more than twelve months after Gagoola ran second in a Rothsay Trial at Flemington, 4»ie V.R.C. took action. They were occupied twelve months in weaving a net that would allow them to act. They then came out with the startling announcement that, as Gagoola was identical with the New Zealand-bred gelding Simba, it was decided to disqualify Simba and the owner, George Guest, for a period of five years. Many Tales. Many' and varied are the startling , turns that the Simba-Gagoola business took. The gelding was said to have been despatched tc Singapore. Roy Stewart on one occasion was called in to destroy a horse on vacant land near William Inglis and Co.’s Newmarket stables. The horse had broken a leg. and was reported to be Simba. But the most sensational chapter in the Gagoola story was the invitation extended to A.J.C. officials, Mr A. Loddon Yuille, keeper of the Australian Stud Book, and Roy' Stewart, A.J.C. veterinary surgeon, to go to Calmsley Hills, outside Cabramatta, where they would be shown the charred remains of a horse said to be Simba. On arrival a horseman met the party and escorted the A.J.C. officials to a gully' where the burning remains of a horse were examined, but newspaper representatives were denied admission to the paddock. The man who came under the A.J.C. ban recently' is alleged to be the man who escorted Messrs Yuille and Stewart to view the charred remains of Gagoola-cum-Simba. The A.J.C. had felt for some time that a certain man had had something to do with the Gagoola business. W. Alldridge, who won a hurdle event on Hustler, was some time later lined up at the A.J.C. office. It was alleged that a certain racecourse frequenter had approached Alldridge and said: “Is it worth 75 to you to pull up Hustler to-day?” Alldridge reported the matter. Two men in particular were cited to appear at the A.J'.C. office to refute certain charges. One put in an appearance: the other didn’t. The man who came along was asked point blank if he’d offered Alldridge a £75 bribe. He denied it. The matter was one that was extremely' difficult to prove, and in due course the matter went from the stipes to the A.J.C. committee. The latter questioned the witness as to whether he had offered a £75 bribe. Again came a denial. Then came a sudden switch in the proceedings. Evidently someone had blown down the A.J.C. ears that the man they had before them knew a lot about the Gagoola-Simba business. The A.J.C. committee “ put it ” red-hot on the man. Mr Colin Stephen asked, “ Are you the person who escorted two A.J.C. officials to inspect the charred remains of a horse said to be Gagoola at Calmsley Hills?” Identified. But the A.J.C. chairman hadn’t finished. Mr A. Loddon Yuille and Mr Roy Stewart, the two officials who had gone to Calmsley Hills, were ushered into the committee room. Roy' Stewart had no two minds in the matter. “ Yes,” he said, “ that’s the man who escorted me to the charred remains of the horse.” The keeper of the studbook (Mr Loddon Yuille) scrutinised the man. ” Yes,” he said, “ that’s him.” Turning to the committee, the man then said: “ I put it to you, gentlemen, that the testimony of these officials is wrong. How could they come along two years after a certain event and testify beyond any doubt that I am the man who was associated with this case ? “ Do y r ou realise that, at most, these officials would not have been on the property more than a quarter of an hour? And now they are prepared to swear that I am identical with the man at Calmsley' Hills. I can assure > r ou that I know nothing of the Gagoola matter.” Then came a command to the man to walk the floor. He strode past the committee and the two A.J.C. officials. Unhesitatingly Mr Loddon Yuille declared : “ That is the man I saw at Calmsley' Hills.” “On what do you base that statemen?” he was asked. “ I tell you by y'our walk,” came back the reply'. “ Well, I’m not lame, nor have I a peculiar action. How is it that you can identify me by' my walk?” ’ Mr A uille replied: “ You have a most alert sort of a walk, and there is no' mistaking it.” “ All I can say. then,” replied the accused, “ is that there are thousands oi men in Sydney with an alert walk, and you pick me out of all those thousands to hang the guilt on to. How is it possible for you to differentiate between any one of those thousands and my'self ?” No finality was reached just then, but it didn’t take the A.J.C. any' length of time to act. “ This man has been informed that he comes under the ban laid down by the A.J.C. By-law IX., which provides that admission to Randwick or Warwick Farm racecourses shall l>e refused.” RE-ASSESSMENTS. Placed horses in the trotting events at the Ashburton County Racing Club’s summer meeting have been reassessed as follows: I-lorse. Table. Line. Elvo 1 11 Irish Peach 1 l i Jimmy de Oro 1 10 Paul Drusus 1 12 Peter Parrish 1 l