TOTE ODDS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1924, Page 1

TOTE ODDS.

CHARGES DISMISSED. [RY TELEGRAPH —TER TRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, August 25. Theodore Allen was charged at the Police. Court, before Mr 11. W. Bundle S.M., witli having, about April 21, earned on the business or occupation of a bookmaker. Chief-Detective Lewis represented the police, and Mr AY. G. Hay appeared for defendant. Mr Hay stated that there mere other charges, whirli lie suggested should he taken together. These were of betting at totalisalor talds. Alien was then charged with having on April If), made a bet with “books'' on the result of a horse race, whereby lie agreed to pay a sum of money, the amount of which was dependent oil the result of the working of the totalisalor. He was similarly charged with making a bet with “Joe" on the same date, and with making a bet with “Bill” on April 21. Mr Bay said defendant pleaded not guilty to till the charges. Detective Lean stated that on June i lie was in the Metropolitan Hotel and met defendant coming out. AVhen defendant saw him he went back into defendant and accused him of betting that day. AY it ness asked him if he hail any hooks in his possession, and lie produced a hook, which lie handed over to witness, saying it was an old hook, lie said lie did not object to bo searched. and witness found live race card; in his possession. These cards referred to the Otaki meeting. Ho also found a card on which were tlto names of three horses that had run at tin* Dunedin Jockey Club's race meeting mi June IB AVhen witness found the hooks defendant said lie hud been hookmaking.

Air Hay objected, tontending that the charge was with betting at totalisator odds. Witness, continuing, said that defendant said lie lmd given up betting a week or eight days before. On pages 17. 111. and (>l of the hook were the following entries: KH Ravenna, by “Joe” paid for 10s, Ss Gil; 10s Cornflower, liv “Books.” paid over £1 ; 20s lluniv Curdy. ‘ Bill’’ £1 Us. The total amount | aid as shown in the hook was £701) 2s 0,1. The names of the horses were all horses that had been run from April 2 to .1 niii* .'L To Mr Hay: A statement was made by defendant later that the book did not belong to him. AY it ness had been advised by an expert that the handwriting in the beak was not the handwriting of defendant. George William Wi'lhelm.son. totalisaItu clerk, said lie was at the Lawrence race meeting on April Ul. He was making out Hie dividends. Cornflower ran in the Trial Ulale, and paid a dividend of £2 for £l. I’orey Beaumont, lotalisator clerk, said he was at the races at Riverton on April I'J and 21. He was first pay out clerk. 'Ravenna eiime .second in the Apniimn Handicap and paid ]ss (id fni £I. Hardy Gurdy ran in the Wallace Handicap, wliii h was won by Bougldeeu Dlicun. but the horse was disqualified, and JJurily Gurdy was | laied first and paid £l !,’s for £].

Detective Sneddon corroborated the evidence of Detective Bean. Air flay said it was obvious that one if not all the charges of betting iotali'.ator odds mii-t break down. Tln> 1,d.1s wen- 17- i>il In the pound, and what was paid was 8s (id. The actual position was that the hook did not hep.lig lo defendant. The police bail or.ill ] ai'cd the entries, and llie entries were not defendant'.*. J'ruhahly defendant had Is'on doing something in lhe way ol betting, and probably some of the bets would show totalisalor odds. I in it had to be shown that defendant in these cu'es laid been belling at l" talisator odds. He (Air Hay) would cull an expert who would say that the handwriting was not the handwriting of the accused.

John Uhallis. head lodgorkeoper in the Bank of New /"aland, said lie had bail very eoii-iilerahle experience in comicciion with handwriting. At the request of tlie | oli, e he lout examined the writing in the book in the possession of the defendant and that in • memorandum written liv the defendant later on. In witness's opinion tlie writing- were quite different and did not appear to agree in any letters oi the alphabet. After reviewing the evidence his Worship -aid the evidence was insuffi(ient V> show that till' entries ill the book or the bets were made hy the defendant. The charges would he dismissed. The defendant was then charged with having, on or about .Vm il 21. carried oo the busine-s of a bookmaker. Mr. Hay said the defendant elected io be tried by jury. Chief-Detective Lewis stoic,! that ill view of tbe decision ill the previous oases tie Would ask leave to withdraw l)ie charge. '|*|;,' ovidvr.: :* would he practically that contained, in the book with some litll" additions which might show or raise a suspicion, that the deteinlaiit was a bookmaker. Hi- Worship agreed lo the withdrawal of the charge.