ALLEGED THEFT AT RACES.

West Coast Times, 15 January 1913, Page 1

ALLEGED THEFT AT RACES.

VOfXO AUSTRIA.VS .STORY.. ACCTSED C.'OJI Al ITT 1C I) TOR TRIAL .UCK.I.AXD, .Inn. 10. A SegUci jO the visil ()1 a VullUg Austrian to the races oil Xew VeaiAs Day w»s the appeal ance before .Mr. E. C. Cotton. 8.1 M.. at the Police Court ycsl.’rday, of Michael O’Brien, aged 37 '•'ears. charged with having .stolon the s in ol £2o from John Prehieevich. O’Brien was additionally charged with having assaulted the young Austrian. In the course of his evidence, Prehicevich. who spoke English tolerably "ell, staled that he had come to. town from Dargaville to spend the holidays. He visited the races on December 30, and was accosted hy O’Brien, who addressed him familiarly as Tony, and slated that he recognised I’rehiccvich as a man who was slopping at the same hotel as he was. Though certain that he hail never met O'Brien before, witness was nothing loth to make his acquaintance, and a discussion on racing ensued between them. During the conversation O'Brien confided lo the young Austrian lha-1 he had just won ■WO on a race. I|,. accounted for his go,,d luck hy explaining that ho had a friend who worked commissions for jockeys, and who gave him (lie•correct lijis. On New Year's Day, Prehieovi. hj slated that he met O'Brien on the racecourse, and was introduced to ‘‘Mr Thomson.'' the man who Worked the comniiss'ons for jockeys. Xol very long after, Prehieevich went liehind a tint with O'Brien and Thompson. Here the 'Austrian observed Thomson hand O’Brien what looked like a roll ~f notes. O’Brien handed them hack, remarking that they were for the next race, the Derby. Thomson had previously stated that Bon lleve was a •‘sure thing" for the race, ami O’Brien directed that Bon Revo should carry his money. Interrogated as to the a mount he could out on Iho mice. Piehicevich said that he would have two ten shilling tickets. He had a roll ol notes, live Co notes, and a -Cl note in his nocket, and these lie pulled out. It was'alleged that O’Brien snalchod the notes from his hand, and handed them to Thomson. O’Brien counselled witness nut to he frightened, adding l!m in a few minutes he would get Cl-10 hack. Prehieevich stated that ]i,> mastered his lears under the asmianees of O’Brien until after the totalizator had closed, and one or oilier of the two had made a mistake and put (he monev on Brown r Owl instead ol p.-m Po-ve. The Austrian’s suspicions were aroused, and he made nn ontciy, Thomson then departing. O’Bnen a .so left him. hut witness followed m Ins wake and undeterred hy a blow in the face kepi np the chase until a constable cnine on the scone. Witness said that O’Brien had stated to the constable ihat the monev had been given him to put on Brown Owl. Prehieevich stated that Hie iv.'iUCT h"rl not been put on the tntnlifainr at all. Fred ftid'er. who was present at the v*ces on the day in question, stated Tint he heard cries of, “Stop thief.

Sion thief," mid raw iho _ acpnW mins, a small crowd cha'inc him. 'Vitnoss cansiht tho accused hy tlio (-.•it. and then the prow,l pot round, an 1 a trnneral scramVilc ensued. T)pipp(ive fiimn”’n‘r.s doiio-'-l th nl in •ho hm-hv. Thai Ton mvl Ron Thro ..—vp hraekoted on iTo machine. parinr: fl "s each. Tim aooii'od. ’vlio wa* ronro-o"tod hv Af-. Hackeft. nlolfaed not sniltr. and was; roinmit'od to the Supreme Court hr trial. Rail was allowed in two rm-ctic- of £75 each.