ALLEGED “ RINGING IN.”

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1924, Page 3

ALLEGED “ RINGING IN.”

ALL SMOKE CASE. [nv Tier,tic;itAi'ii—run riuiss association.] CHIHSTCHUECH, March 5. Tho All Smoke case was taken this morning before Mr Bundle, when Allred Tucker, Charles 11. Capes and William Williamson were charged with conspiring to defraud Otahuhu Trotling Club by substituting an unknown horse for Ail Smoke. Robert I, Absolum (Secretary of Otahuhu Trotting Club) stated that in November the Club held a two days’ meeting. November 21st and 24th. Among the nominations received for the lirst. race on the first day were All ■Smoke and Wild Mon. The first nomination was by telegram signed McDonald. In the nomination form for All Smoke, the horse was describe! as being owned by A. Tucker and trained by James McDonald. W ild Moil was collided with AH Smoke. Janies McDonald was given as owner. The horse was described as a four year old trotter bv Wildwood

Junior, out of a Tracey Mare. The nominations were signed by A. Tucker and J. McDonald. The horse Wild Mon was scratched for tho Introductory Handicap on the first day. The scratching was notified by J. McDonald “per C. Shaw.” The Introductory Handicap was won by a lmrse called Lord Robert, on 48yds. All Smoke on the limit, was second. The dividend on All Smoko was £1 Bs. All Smoke was driven by D. Bennett of ( liristcliureli. On the second day in the Innovation Handicap, All Smoke (flatted from 10,8 yards behind, and was ridden h.v AV. Williamson. The 'ug lee payable to Williamson W!IK J L'H. Tho second place money for All flinoka on tin* first day had not boon paid to Tucker nor the riding fee t* Williamson. On December 7. witness received a telegram from Tucker “No stake money yet to hand, why delay?” Witness did not reply to the telegram, ami on December, 8 received the following telegram signed “Tucker”— deceived no reply to yesterday’s folegram, when may I expect one?” Witness replied “Your telegram to band. Stake withheld. Action in do- ; stroving ot AH Smoke without notifiea-

tiou being investigated by committee.” In reply to that-, witness received a wire on December 17. “(‘amiofc understand your wire, kindly explain by letter.” Later the witness received a letter from Williamson asking for the l"b riding tee. Allan Roy .WeCrae (railway dork at Otahuhu) said that on tin* night of November Id. the train brought a ft ami two I .(». waggons to Otahuhu. I bat was epual to live horse waggons. O waggon was consigned to Williamson. There were in it two horses, and one sulky. The two V(< waggons were consigned to J. Hi ice and contained seven Imiscs and two sulkies. The charge in respect to 0 waggon was paid by W. Williamson. The consignment note was signed “\V. Williamson, ( hri*«tchtirch.” On Nov. 2(ith a sulky "as consigned from Otahuhu to .f. Hardwick. Wellington by 11. Capes, Criterion Motel, Christchurch. A consignment note on December II th eon-si-.rned a lior.NC from Auckland from C. (I. Capes, W'aitemata Hotel, to A. Tucker, (‘liristcliureli, care ol .1. Hard"i' K. Wellington. Since Nov. 10th there was no record of Hie consignne»nt of a horse from Otahuhu by William sou or ( 'ajH*s. l‘’airley. formerly a band cin- } loved bv AY. Kelsey, horse trainer of Auckland, said on November lHth. he u < nt to Otahuhu railway station about •S i’.m. if) gel ;i trotter called \lvewood et the station. lb* found iTi’af tin* lu ix train was in. Witness started to help, Br.we to unload his horses. A man named Williamson came tip and asj-od for Kcl cy’s hoy. Wihifss asked AYilliamson what lmrse be had and AVdfjamsou answered K.*»lo»mi John. Nicholson Hicenuee of rh* Criterion Hotel, Otfikubu) si«d on tin. night of November TAth. t«o men airing tb° name*- of (Aif’e.s am! Williamson came to stay at- his hotel. They had a black horse with them. Ho saw tin* horse be I ore it left his house. It then had something wrong with the front leg. .John Wilson (Manager of Otahuhu

"in works, and steward of Otahuhu Trotting Club), said that before the N'ovciuhor meeting he saw a black horse about 15.2 or 15.3 hands at the Criterion hotel. He could not, understand blown streaks oil his muzzle. It looked as if lm>"'n hairs wore showing through black hairs. Williamson was in charge ut kin? horse and /Capes was with him. Witness saw the horse practically every day while, ii was there. The hor.se when on the track was a hold trotter. The second day the horse broke down. Before doing so, lie did not make much of a showing. J. Ys’. Kee, gave evidence that on November 14th. he saw a horse with Capes and Williamson going towards th. boiling down works. It, was not the horse produced in Court.

John Brownlee (Clerk ol Austin’s boiling down works at Janmure) said on November 2Gth.. about II).TO a.m. he received a. block horse at the boiling down works. The lior.se was led th-oiigh the paddocks by two men. The horse had a rug on and was very janic. Witness met one of the” men, Wihiamson, in the works. Williamson said he- had a horse to be destroyed. Witness said it could not ho done that dry as there was nobody there to do li. Williamson said the horse was a trotter, lie thought it had a. small bene in fetlock broken and he wanted it put out. of its msiery. Williamson was to get 10s for the horse. Ju reply to Williamson, he said that lulling was done bv .shooting. Ihe tollowing Saturday the horse was destroyed. The horse struck witness as being

<-rv peculiar. It was very, very lame. It had a. bay muzzle and was peculiar in colour. There were bay rings round tin- eyc-s, and the coat seemed to be bay under black. When the horse was kinod. witness took the hide io Sutherland's tannery. William Nelson (foreman fellmonger of Sutherland’s tannery) said the hide v,--„s of a. peculiar colour. When the hair lay flat it was black, especially on the hack. When it was ruffled it shewed hay. more particularly on the holly. It. appeared to hint that the coat had been stained or dyed. After it had been washed and dressed the c'-at had been put under lock and key, at the request of the Otahuliu TrotLog Club.

Kenneth M. Griffen (Government analyst) said he received samples front the black hide. Witness found copper in all the pieces taken.