Racing “Crooks.'’

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXVI, Issue 5013, 20 September 1906, Page 4

Racing “Crooks.'’

How Sport Is Spoiled.

An interesting side-light was thrown on the question of how to “ rig ” racos at the sitting of the H.M. Court, Taihapo, on Wodnosduy morning, when Mary Muhor sued William Patterson for the sum of £4 3h, board and lodging, boot ropuirs, and nomination money paid by lior on account of ono liourigan. Mr A. L. Arrowsmith, who appeared for Mrs Maher, in opening the case, said that Hourigun hud boon brought to Tuihape by defendant, under a false name, with a view to running him in certain races. By this moans lie was ablo to win a con sidoruble amount of monoy, out of which defendant, with another party, roceivod big profits. That being so, it was nocessury to koop the man as quiot as possiblo. With this in viow, defendant wrote to Mrs Maher, asking her to supply board and lodging and nocosßurios for Hourigan while I he wus in Taihape. She did so. I

Shortly before Hourigan left defendant went to Mrs Maher and said that a man named Tom Bowen would settle the account when ho returned to Taihape. Mary Maher, sworn, said that she was asked to nominate “ T. Andrews” for the Mangaweka Handicap. She did so, and later on entered Hourigan in the name of “ Roi&iter ” for another event.

Patterson denied having written to plaintiff with regard to Hourigan’s staying at the house. The latter was entered for the Mdngaweka Handicap under the name of T. Andrews. A man named Cjok entered him us Rossiter. Bowen brought Hourigan to Taihapo, having got him from •Sydney. Bowen engaged both he (witness) and Hourigan for a trip on the West Coast. He (witness) did not employ Hourigan ; Bowen did.

The S.M. said lie would hold defendant responsible for the money owing to Mrs Maher, and would order him to pay £4 3s, und costs £1 12s. There was no doubt in his mind that defendant and the man Bowen were “ working ” Hourigan. After this disclosure wo (Taihape Post) should think that tho Athletic Societies would be doing good service to clean sport wero they to bur the individuals concerned in tho above case.