A TOTALISATOR SWINDLE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1002, 17 November 1883, Page 2

A TOTALISATOR SWINDLE.

Jimes Hartley 4 was ’charged, this morning at the Police Court, before Mr W. C. Walker and Mr R. Alcorn, J. P.’s, with attempting to obtain money from the totalisator on the racecourse yesterday by means of tickets on which he had fraudulently gummed the winning numbers. S. Saunders, Secretary to the A.R.C., the first witness called, produced a license issued by the Colonial Secretary to the Club to use the totalisator in connection with the recent race meeting. The machine was worked by Hobbs and Goodwin under the auspices of the Club. Edward Jordan, clerk to Hobbs and Goodwin, said that it was his duty to assist Mr Hobbs in the distribution of tickets, and see that those presented as winning numbers were correct. The ticket produced was presented by the accused for payment, but noticing that it had been tampered with it was not paid. Had paid out L 5 2s the previous day on an altered ticket, but could not say that it was to the accused.

William Hobbs, partner in the firm of Hobbs and Goodwin, explained the system adopted in working the totalisator. He received the money from the public and his clerk (Jordan) handed him the tickets for issue in return. After tho race it was Jordan’s duty to examine the winning numbers before the money was paid out by another assistant. Yesterday he noticed a’ person whom he had known for some time as a confederate of tho accused altering a ticket, and he cautioned Jordan and the paying-out clerk to be on their guard. The ticket now in tho hands of the police was presented by accused, who was immediately given in charge.— To the Accused: Did not see you altering this ticket.—To the police : Had previously cautioned accused, who had been “ringing the changes ” around the totalisator for two or three years. Had faithfully promised him that he would give him in charge on the first opportunity. Prisoner : i have never spoken to you in my life. Witness, to the Bench : I am quite sure this is the man I have repeatedly cautioned.

Prisoner : You never knew me do thingWitness : I have known you do a great many things. W. J. Hussey was at the racecourse on Thursday. Saw accused altering a totalisator ticket, and called the attention of several gentlemen to the process. This was on Thursday, the first day’s racing. The arresting constable said he apprehended the accused on the racecourse yesterday. Found the pocket-book and totalisator ticket now produced in his possession. Several of the tickets were defaced. There was a very large crowd around the totalisator throughout the day.

The prisoner admitted attempting to pass the ticket which he had picked up near the machine, and thought it to be genuine. His ideas were bad, but it was only an attemp;. He asked for a light sentence that he might go shearing, and earn sufficient money to take him to England. He wou'.d promise to do this, and bagged the Bench not to deprive him of the shearing. Sergeant Felton had no record of previous offences by the accused, who was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labor.