FALSE PRETENCES

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1932, Page 6

FALSE PRETENCES

BOOKMAKING VENTUBE,

(By Telegraph — Pt. Press Association)

AUCKLAND, May 5. 1 Philip Fielding Farmvorth stood his 1 trial yesterday on a charge of obtain- - ing £2O by false pretences from l Charles Suthers Lees, a waterside 1 worker. It was- alleged that lie ob--1 t.iinod tlie money by representing that * it would be handed to detective officers * to ensure immunity from being raided ; when Leee set up with him in business as a bookmaker. Lees, now a waterside worker and * formerly a land agent, described a meeting with Famworth when it was suggested that he (witness) should go into the bookmaking business: Witness took an office for six weeks. Farmvorth said it would be a good idea to get £2O to “square” . the detectives. He said he had been in the force six and a half years and knew tlie ropes and could bribe the police to protect them from interference. He mentioned De-tective-Sergeant McHugh and Detec-tive-Sergeant Doyle . Counsel: How did he refer to them ? W itness: He called McHugh “Mr” and Mr Doyle “Paddy” (laughter). J " itness ch ew money from the Post Office Savings Bank and handed it j over.. He understood that to be “fifty-fifty”.- between the two officers. Mi* Justice Herdrnan asked: Did you make, any money?—“No, but I lost j some (laughter). It cost me £3O in all.” j And'what happened to the business? It, was mostly “on the nod.” Not | much cash, sir (laughter). Oouncel for the accused: I suppose ; you realise it was an illegal transaction P—Yes. j You as a land agent and also as a waterside worker had some knowledge of. the world ?—Yes, and I have a. bit more now (laughter). The witness said that a couple of days after giving him the £2O Farn- | worth said: “[ spoke to the detectives and made things all right. One of J them said it was a miserable present.” Farnworth’s counsel referred to the case as paltry. The chief witness i against Farn\vorth had' been in partnership in an illegal business with him. The jury, after a brief retirement, ] returned with a verdict of guilty and j Farmvorth was remanded for sentence. j '(