RINGING IN.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1924, Page 1

RINGING IN.

BOTH MKX COXVICTEI). nv TKJ.ECiR.VrH —I’ItESS ASSN., copyright. DUNEDIN, .May 7. The Supreme Colin was filled with a large crowd of auditors again to-day to Hour the continuation of the alleged ringing-in at Gore Troting Meeting in October of last year, of the Dingo for the trotter Kingsdale. The accused, .Tolm Richards and Walter Leonard .lames Cameron, are indicted on four counts of conspiracy to defraud tile Gore Racing Club, M illiam Francis .lames, and the public. The four counts brought against the accused were: (1) Oil or about October 1, 1923, at Dunedin, they did conspire one with the other, hy Iraudulent means to defraud the public, and in particular William Francis James and the Gore liming Club. (•_’) On the same date they did conspire, one with the other, to lit a-crime punishable by imprisonment with hard labour fur three years, namely, the crime of obtaining moneys from the Gore Racing Club with the intent to defraud, hy false pretence, hy representing the trotting horse named The Dingo to lie the trotting horse named Kingsdale. Cl) On or about October •JO. 1923, at Gore, with the intent to defraud, they did attempt to obtain from the Gore Racing Club the sum of £93 hy means of a certain false pretence, hy representing The Dingo to lie Kingsdale. (I) On the same date at Gore, with intent to defraud, they did obtain from William Francis James the sum of £IOB7 IDs by means ol a certain false pretence, hy repreicnlingTiic Dingo to he Kingsdale. As indicated yesterday, tile members of lb;* jury were kept together last night. They slept at the Leviathan Hotel, under police guard. Earlier in the evening they went to a place of amusement, under escort.

Alter the remaining witnesses, who bad given evidence in tile Lower Court had been examined. Mr Adams, Crown Prosecutor, intimated that lie had a fresh witness, one who had not given evidence in the Lower Court. .Hr Hanlon said the defence had no notice of what the fresh evidence was to he.

Mr Adams said the witness arrived from Christelmreh last night. He had notified Mr Hanlon live minutes after lie knew the witness was available.

Ilis Honour permitted the witness to he called. Oswald Edmond' Hooker, a neighbour of the McNeills, said lie knew the Dingo. He had seen it driven about the roads since it was young. About half a dozen times he had ridden and driven il himself. This morning he examined a horse in the police yard, and to the best ol liis Indict il was The Dingo. To Mr Sinclair, witness said lie had collie to Dunedin because he had brought some horses down for the meeting here 10-niorrnw. When he was here in January, he went to Grant's stable, and recognised the horse in the box as The Dingo. This closed the case tor the Crown.

Roth Air Hanlon and Mr Sinclair intimated that they would call no evidence.

After an adjournment for lunch, the horse in the police yard was taken into Stuart Street, and ridden in hopples by Art bur Butterlicld, for the benefit o| the jury. The deinoiistialien at traded a huge crowd. Mr llaidnii. addres'ing I lie jury, stressed the point that Richard- had acted in a very straightforward ninnncr, and pointed out llial il was unlikely lie would he engaged in a conspiracy when lie went lo James. of the lolidisator, openly, got a betting hock Irnui him, gave him a blank cheque, and afterward- was paid his winnings b\- cheque. That wa- not the action of a limn (•■inspiring. The point most strongly emphasised hy counsel was that the horse shewn to the jury stood lo hands II inches high while Ihe measurement of the Dingo, taken hy Ale.Xeiil. the hor.-c’s former owner, was 111 hands 2’. inches.

The Judge, .-illuming up, pointed out that the measurement of the Dingo was made In. an amateur, and that it might not have been quite accurate. The jury, after a il'tireuient of half an hour, returned with a verdict of guilty against Imlh accused on Ihe first and second counts, and added a recommendation to the New Zealand Trotting Association to exercise greater care in accepting registrations.

The Judge complimented the police on the manner in which they had collected the evidence. Sentence was deferred.