BETTING FRAUDS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2732, 13 May 1924, Page 3

BETTING FRAUDS

GAMBLERS’ MISPLACED CONFIDENCE. AN EMOTIONAL PRISONER. Auckland, May 10. The old story of misplaced confidence by racing gamblers and deep duplicity by Turf swindlers was heard afresh at the Supreme Court yesterday in a case in which Walter W. Vincent was charged with having practised betting frauds upon two men by taking money under false pretences. Accused, a middle-ag-ed person of smiling demeanour, was unrepresented by counsel. Particulars of two barefaced swindles were exposed by the evidence for the Crown. Accused, getting into conversation with (he two men, professed to he a trainer, and to be able 1,, put. men on to good things, at Ellerslie in one case, at Egmont in the other. He then obtained £3 from the first man and £220 from the second, then doing the disappearing trick. He was'arrested at Mercer while on his way to Wellington. In his possession was found £239 in monev.

Accused addressed the jury from the dock, delivering a _ semi-humor-ous and finally an emotional harangue. As to proceeds of the wagerine', be had intended he said, to post the money hack from the South.^ Towards the end of his address, accused produced the effect of tears in liis voice. ••[ wouldn’t try emotion upon the jury if T were you,” observed Mr Justice Stringer, whereupon accused asserted bis self-control. Later however, when his Honour -was sumluing up. lie resumed bis sobbing act amUshed tears. “Oh it's no good trying that kind of humbug upon me. It won't do at all,” said his Honour, blandly, and lie went on to put i! |,v the jury that the whole case depended upon whether, as accused represented. complainants, had “had a fair run for their money.” The jury after about five minutes’ retirement, found prisoner guilty. Sentence was deferred for a week to enable inquiries to be made as to prisoner’s antecedents.