ALLEGED FRAUD.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17840, 12 October 1929, Page 7

ALLEGED FRAUD.

TOO MEN CHARGED. VICTIMSING A BOOKMAKER. EVIDENCE OF HORSE OWNER(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GISBORNE, Saturday. In the Magistrate’s Court, William McKinnon, indent agent, and Wallace Fountain, telegraphist, were jointly charged with conspiring to defraud Arthur Yeo, of Napier, bookmaker, of £99 by means of a forged telegram on August 13, and with similarly conspiring to defraud 'him of £BO on August 15. McKinnon and Charles Thomas Clifford Hands, telegraphist, were charged with having on August 24 attempted to defraud Yeo of £l5O by means of a fOTged telegram. Evidence was given 'by George Symons, owner of the horse Malahat, that as a result of a conversation with McKinnon he wrote Yeo, and asked for a ‘‘no reply” code, this being granted, with a limit of £2O, also the condition that the telegram -had to be lodged before the advertised starting time of the race. McKinnon asked that the code be left at his office, and twice asked if he could use the code, witness agreeing on condition that he let him know when he was doing so. On no occasion was he notified by McKinnon that he was going to use it. Witness denied that the telegrams produced were written by him or by his authority. He also denied sending several other telegrams produced, making bets on various horses, or receiving money either from Yeo or McKinnon.

•Cross-examined, witness admitted that he had endeavoured t.o communicate with Yeo at McKinnon's request. He had addressed envelopes to him and left them with McKinnon, and had used McKinnon’s box for receiving a racing letter. McKinnon was continually telling him about the betting after it was done.

Elsie Kathleen Morrel, telephone operator, deposed to connections between McKinnon’s telephone number and the telegraph counter where Fountain was working, but she was too busy to hear the conversation.

The hearing was adjourned till Monday.