BETTING TELEGRAM

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1931, Page 3

BETTING TELEGRAM

ALLEGED'FRAUD. TWO MEN CHARGED. (By Telegraph — L’er Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 1. In the Magistrate’s Court to-day, John Mi irtTahifl, labourer, aged 47, and Alfred Jamsen, restaurant proprietor, of Wanganui, were charged with conspiring with some persons unknown by fraudulent means to obtain a total sum of £222 from two bookmakers. The police alleged in the case against Maitland that a telegram, in connection with tlie bet, which was sent to a bookmaker in Palmerston North, had been wilfully delayed after it had reached the telegraph department of the G.P.O.

“Obviously,” said Sub-Inspector Ward, “the other party who must have been a member of the conspiracy was a, member of the Post and Telegraph Department.” The cases against the two men were heard separately, and Mnrtland, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiring to obtain £l3B 15s from Charles Williams, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail, which had previously been fixed at £IOO, with otic surety of £IOO, was renewed. The case against Jamsen, who was charged with, conspiring to obtain £B3 ss, from Peter Healey, is proceeding.

FU RTHER. PARTICULARS. WELLINGTON, July 1. Two men appeared in the Police Court to-day on separate, lint similar charges, of conspiring with some unknown person to defraud bookmakers, one at Palmerston North, ancT the other at Wanganui, of sums totalling £222. Alterations were said to have been made in a telegram to the bookmakers, so that the name of a winning horse was substituted for tlie name of the original one. written by the senders. “Obviously, the other man must have been a member of the P. and T. Department,” said Sub-Inspector Ward. The two accused were committed to tlie Supreme Court for trial. The first charge was against -John Martland, a labourer, aged 47, wee was accused of conspiring to defraud Charles Williams, of Palmerston North of £l3B 15s. Allred .Jansen a restaurant keeper, aged 41, was proceeded against on a similar charge involving £B3 ss. The bookmaker this time was Peter Hcale.v. of Wanganui. The evidence in both cases revealed tlie same horses and the same race, the R u inner a Hurdle's at Ellerslie on June 6th. The horse High Pitch won this race. Lengthy evidence'’was given concerning the times that the telegrams were put in and the methods of handling them in the Pest Office. Tt-was stated j that five persons would handle tlie telegrams from the time of their receipt to their telegraphing, but the Supervisor admitted that it was possible for others in the room to touch 1 the telegrams, hut said it was highly improbable that this would he done without the Supervisor’s knowledge.