EUCHRE PRIZES.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1925, Page 2

EUCHRE PRIZES.

PLAYER’S SCHEAIH TO WIN. TLMARi;. Sept. 17. In the .Magistrate’s Court, Wore Air K. 1). Alosiey. S.AI.. Wallace Findlay was charged that with intent to defraud hy means of a certain false pretence. lo»wit. falsely marked euchre tournament, cards, he did obtain nil eiderdown quilt of the value of L'3. and one aluminium saucepan of the value of Los. the property of the Timaru Rowing Club. He was further charged with falsely attempting to obtain hy similar means two eiderdown quilts of the

value of £A each, and one 101 b box of lea valued at AOs. the property of the Timaru Bowing Club.

Air .1. Enislie appeared for the accused. who pleaded not guilty and elected to he dealt with summarily. Detective 11. .1. Le Sueur, said that charges arose out of a euchre tournament held hy the Timaru Bowing Club. The games were ordinary euchre games played with four players at each table. There was a “king" table and the games were controlled there. Iwo punches were allotted tor a win, and one for a. draw. The winning lady would move down to the next table, and the winning mail would move up. Cm account of something heard hy the management, certain cards were examined. and some of the punches on ac-cust-d's cards wore smaller than those used by the officials. On one occasion a watch was kept on the accused and his card contained twenty-one punches. It was only possible for him to obtain sixteen points, and his right score on this occasion should have been fifteen. Accused had also played in another euchre tournaments, and on the three nights he competed he won the first prize. Charles Bradley, a member of the Timaru Bowing Club, outlined the conditions of play, and detailed the night on which accused's card contained twenty-one punches, the holes counting the number ol tables that accused shifted from. On this occasion it was only possible for him to secure sixteen points, but as lie drew one 'game bis score should have been fit teen. Witness took a sample of the punches used on this night. There were five in all. No one Iml the club's officials had the right to mark a card, and a card should not la- out of t lie possession ot a player. Ti was not alleged that there was anything wrong with the accused s cards on the first two nights. On the fourth night accused qualified for a prize but - was beaten in tile play-nil' by a lady. Tbere were marks on accused’s card that night which were foreign to the Munches used hy the officials. On the fifth night accused’s card showed twenty-five punch holes, gaining first prize. There were five foreign marks on that card. Accused was not present on the sixth night, hut on the ninth his cii,-d contained twenty-four punches. There were five foreign marks on the card, one put in in the early part of llu* ovoiiinjr, unci l^ a . v censed. They were evidently put in hurriedly, because some ol the punches milv dipped the edge of the card. They wen- evidently done under the table. The foreign punch holes were of a uniform size. Accused qualified for the final night's play but be did not turn

up- . - llai-rv Charles Gray, a member ot the Timaru Rowing Club, said that on tin- seventh night it could not have been possible for accused to gain 21 points. That was judging bv till' num-t..-r of tables accused played at. Evidence was also given by ACruicksbanks and F. M. AYilson. Mr Enislie said that they really otilv had evidence relating to the seventh night. It was impossible for the accused after such a lapse of time to call people with, whom he had played, to say that he had won hy fair means or foul. Accused bad played lor fourth place mi the third night. There was no evidence that accused had used a punch. He was playing in company with men who were desirous of winning tlic lii'-f prize, and d anything of a -usphions nntnro was jioiiij? on snniothing would he said immediately. Accused, in the box. stated that be I!,| not win a prize on August 4. On the night of August 26 he won a prize with 2A or 2li points. On that night, before D-e games were finished. Mr Bradlev remarked to him that he had a good card. On the night of lII' seventh lie won the first prize and then drew four games at the next (able. He also drew at another When coming out of the hall he remarked to another player about the number »f drawn gomes he had played that night. He had never had a punch in his. possession. To Detect ice Le Sueur: He could not termini for the smaller punch on his card.

Diinea'i M'Call. lab or, remembered tin 1 night on which he won a prize. He saw accused that night when leaving the hall, ami the latter barracked him about his having won a prize.

Re, alh'd. Charles Bradley stated that on the seventh night he had not torn the card as accused had stated. He had no punch of the size or shape indicated.

Ifis Worship said that he was quite satisfied that ill regard to the seventh night the incident related hv accused did not happen. The two holes alleged hv accused to have been made hv Bradley were not the same as the other holes. There were certainly holes made by a punch other than that used by the officials controlling the tournament. The accused had been well watched on the night of August 7, and he was satisfied that it would have been impossible for the accused to have made the score he had alleged lie luid made. The evidence of the witness could not he disbelieved. An attempt had been made to fraudulently gain n prize. The evidence on the fourth and the seventh nights was conclusive, hut the other night- were not clear. Accused was convicted on the two charges of fraudulently obtaining

goods, and the charges of attemtping to obtain goods would he dismissed. On one charge lie was convicted and lined £lO and costs, and on the other he was convicted and discharged. Accused was allowed to pay the line by instalments ol Cl per week.