The Christchurch "Consultation" Affair.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6216, 12 May 1887, Page 2

The Christchurch "Consultation" Affair.

(FROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT,}

Christohdrch, May 12. The conspiracy case is exoiting a considerable amount of interest. The pwticu. lara are as follows : — A man named Thomas Herbert Bilby was arrested on a charge of keeping a gaming house, and having instrumerits for gaming contrary to the Gaming and Lotteries Act. It Is Btated that he oame to Christchnrch about three weeks ago from Wellington, and at once started a consultation on the Danedin Birthday meet* ing under the name of " Eagle's next Killarney." He hired a box at the post office, and sent out printed circulars and books of tickets to all parts of the oolony in the name of "Stapleton," Persons to whom these were sent seemed to have boen under the impression thitthey bad been issued by T. Stapleton, who, in days when consultation? were legal, was widely known as the promoter of the "Robin Hood" sweepi, and whose reputation for probity and fair dealings stands high. The recipients cf ' , tiokets, it seems, had been mostly clients of • SUpleton's, and many of them accordingly disposed of the " Eagle's next " tickets in, good faith, Some, however, returned their books unsold, A few days ago the police got intimation of what was going on, and Inspeotor Pender, with Detective M. Neill and Constable Gaffney, watched Bilby go to the Post Office and take some letters from his box. They then followed him to hit lodgings, in Gloater Street, where he waa arrested. In his room were found a number of letteri from persons who had evidently sent him money j one contained a P.O. order for £6. There were also copies of "Stapleton'*" circulars and books of tickets, These were neatly got np, and bore a piotur« representing a "view of Kit larney . ' The whole of the "atock-in-trjiOi'? was seized, and an information for eonspiraoy to defiaud was laid agaiust Bilby and another man, who wa» subsequently arrested in Wellington, Thomas Herbert Bilby was. oharged with conspiracy with one J, Eogars as about to defraud G. S. Smith, of Wellington. T. H, Bilby wag further oharged with keeping a common gambling house on May 10th. Inspeotor Fender said that another concerned in the case had been arrested in Wellington, and, a remand would have to be asked { o r to prooure his attendance. Mr Stringer 'for the aconted, asked for bail. Inspector Pender said he had been informed that the accused, who waa a seafaring man, was about to pass an examination in navigation, and then clear out in a ship, Mr Stringer said that, as a fact, the man actually held a mate's certificate, which was with the other papers in Inspeotor Pender's possession, His olisnt oould not very well olear. The Bench fixed bail at £100, two sureties of £51) eaob,»nd iconaed was remanded till Miy Uth.