BETTING INFORMER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1404, 2 April 1912, Page 4

BETTING INFORMER.

FINED FOR AIDING AND ABETTING,; (By Telegraph.—Frees Association.) Wcnganui, Ayril 1. A case of considerable importance (o bookmakers was heai'd to-day before (ho local magistrate. A few weeks ago a, punter named Crnno quarrelled with a. local bookmaker named Blain, and informed Iho police that Main was bolting lit "lole" odds. Main was prosecuted, and convicted on Crane's evidence. Crano applied lo llio magistrate for a certificalo of indemnity, but Jlr. Mackny. Main's: counsel, objected ou llie grounds that such eerlilicales could not he granted in ' respect of helling informers. The magis(rate, agreed, and refused (o Brant tho certificate. Main then laid an information again-t Crano for aiding and abetting in "lote" betting. The information was heard to-dny, Jlr. Jlaokay tendering as his solo ovidei\« .statements made by Crane in Court. Jlr. Cohen, who appeared for Crano, caused consid"rable amusement by an ironical eulogy of Blain, as moral reformer. Ultimately Crano was convicted and fined .£3 and costs. The-result will be an increased difficulty in obtaining evidence in such cases. The police stSte that they will apply to the department for a grant to recoup Crano, who gave his evidence solely on condition that, ho Was' indemnified.