CONSPIRACY CHARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1929, Page 5

CONSPIRACY CHARGE

FURTHER PARTICULARS. 7

By Telegraph—Per Press Association.}

GISBORNE, October 14

When the hearing of the charges, against William McKinnon and allace Fountain, of allegedly conspiring to defraud Arthur Yeo, bookmaker, by means of forged telegrams were continued this morning. Yeo gave evidence of numerous £lO and £2O bets made by telegrams signed by Symons, the majority of the bets being on winners. Owing to the difference of time olf lodgment and 'the receipt of the telegram waging £2O on Flying Prince which paid £l2 2s Gd, witness asked the Department to enquire some years ago. He refused to accept bets with McKinnon as the I after failed to settle. Had he known Symons was really McKinnon he would not have taken the bets.

Leslie Illingworth, telegraphist, stated til alt the telegram on August 13th, placing a wager on Membo was despatched by him at 5.3. The counter clerk’s time showed it f° he received at 4.39, a delay of 24 minutes. Cross-examined witness stated slight delays sometimes occurred, but not 24 minutes, particularly when only two other telegrams were despatched during the afternoon.

Another telegraphist, William Arthur Rauch, stated that Black Mint telegraphed by him on August loth- at 0.0 although the counter clerk’s time wa5,4.37, a delay of 23 minutes, which is exceptional. He thought it occurred either at the counter or in the sliute.

Charles David Pnnkhurst, also a telegraphist, stated that at 5 p.m. on August loth, ten or twelve telegrams were sent from the counter at once. The wire was clear at the time and he distributed the messages for despatch, noticing at the time that Black Mint was one among them.