BETTING CHART CASE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1725, 16 April 1913, Page 3

BETTING CHART CASE.

~9 PROSECUTION BASED ON LETTERS TO A PRISONER(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, April 15. At the Magistrate's' Court, Peter Grant and W. Whelan were charged with having assisted to publish a betting chart without an imprint being attached. Tho defendants pleaded not guilty. Edward Eales, Police-Sergeant, stationed at Rotorua, and gaoler, said that on February 24 he received a prisoner namcj, Thomas Wilson on. remanu. Wilson was in custody till March 4, and four letters (produced) came to him. Witness opened them iu prisoner's presence. One letter contained a double betting slip for tho Wanganui races, and a similar slip for tho Dunedin races. The envelope had on the outside, "If unclaimed, return to Box 715, Christchurch." The second letter contained similar ■ cards, aiul the third contained a. double chart for the Easter and Autumn Handicaps, and also a chart for tho Wanganui Cup and Flying Handicap. Chief-Detective Bishop drew attention to the stamps on the letters, which had evidently been put on by a stamp machine. Arthur Wilson, a Maori, stated that ho received, whilst 1 in Mount Eden Gaol, the letters produced by the previous witness. .They were from Barnett and Grant, of Christchurch, with whom the witness had dono business. ' Alexander Wilder, printer, stated hocould not swear that he printed the matter" on tho envelopes in which the cards wero enclosed. P. S: H. Chambers, clerk in the Chief Postmaster's office, stated tho stamp on tho envelope produced was Barnett and Grant's, and was done with a machine leased to * that firm. This closed tho case for tho prosecution, and the further hearing was adjourned till to-morrow.