AUDACIOUS PLOT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2925, 20 August 1925, Page 3

AUDACIOUS PLOT.

BETTING WITH PRISONERS,

THREE WARDERS IMPLICATED

Auckland, August 18.

An audacious plot to communicate with prisoners in Mount Eden Caul, and to carry out hotting transactions, was revealed in the Magistrate's Court to-day. David Hugh Lloyd (aged 39) and Edgar H. Scott (aged 39), warders at the gaol pleaded guilty Lo causing tobacco and letters to be unlawfully conveyed to the prison, and F. \V. T. RCiller (aged 20), another warder admitted causing three letters to lie delivered into the prison. The offences were committed on July 31 and April 3U. Airs. Ada May Bleasel admitted causing to be delivered lo Lloyd three leLlers and a parcel of tobacco, to be conveyed into the prison, and denied two charges of publishing a document containing a totalisator dividend and of laying totalisator odds.

Chief-Detective Cummings said that in consequence of eomplaiuts made by the deputy-superintendent of the prison, he went there on August 4, and saw the three warders accused. He Look possession of three letters. Later in the day Mrs B!easel called to visit her son-in-law, Alike Flynn, who was serving a sentence for burglary. Witness told her that Lloyd had been detected bringing articles to the prison for Ely an and another prisoner, Gerard Corvissianu, and she admitted she had given him three letters and a packet to be handed to Corvissiano. The letters were opened in her presence. The contents included day cards for the Poverty Bay race meeting and for the Christchurch Hunt Club meeting, and detailed the lirst and second horses and the dividends paid. A settling sheet showed that Corvissiano had on one day alone invested £l9O and won £lls 12s. In another case he had invested about £75 with

Mrs Bleascl and won £8 ss. At the Gisborne meeting he won £IOO 12s. for £152 invested. In most cases I rum £1 to £l2 was invested, but there was a case in which the sum was £25. All the betting was at tolalisator odds, and Mrs Bleasel said that the limit had been £7 10s. Questioned by witness, Mrs Bleasel had said that she did not hold the money, but acted only as an intermediary, and gave prisoner the results. She was aware that she was not doing right in communicating by this means, but was willing to take the risk. It was not denied that she received every consideration from the prison authorities in the matter of lawful communication with the prisoner, but; she claimed tliiil: neither her son-in-law nor she herself got British justice. Witness told her that he had been informed by Oorvissiano that a £250 double was struck and it had been paid. William Thus. Leggait, deput.ysuperinlciidnni of’Mount-Eden Prison, said that accused called to see her son-in-law and when spoken to admitted that she gave documents to Lloyd to lake to the prison. She said that she was not a bookmaker, lint passed it on for the prisoner. Witness now knew that one betting 1 ransiii timi resulted in .Cl Off being received into the prison through an illegal channel. Before calling Mrs Bleascl lo give evidence. her counsel, Mr. Tong, said that it appeared that a big drama was going on, and she was one of: the pawns in Ihe game, and had been used by some higher up. She would have to hra r the brunt of the blame. Tie submitted that she had not. "published" within the meaning of the Act.

Mrs Bleascl, in evidence, said that she was in business at Newmarket. Documents which she was told to send to Post Office Box 2il. Newmarket, came into her possession, and she did as instructed. She did not receive any money, and was not concerned in any way with betI ing.

Cross-examined, witness said that she handed the cards produced to Lloyd lo he taken into the prison. She did not. know who wrote "Mr. F. Collins, care of Box 20, Newmarket,” on one envelope produced, hut one of the letters found had been written by her.

No reply was given when Chief--1 (elective Cummings asked “who is the bookie?”

Mr. Cummings: I put it to you that this has been going on for two months.

Accused: Two months if you like

Chief-Detective Cummings said lliat- on February 23 Box 2U at the Newmarket Post Office was taken bv Miss Eva Collins. If was Ihe custom for warders to collect mail from the box, and to deliver it to prisoners. When the plot was discovered all the men told the truth and assisted the police. They would lose their positions, and (here was also the question of superannuation. No doubt the master tniiul was at. Newmarket.

Remarking that they were foolish men the Magistrate imposed a fine of £5 7s. costs in each case, but refused a request by Scott for suppression of the. names, saying that, it was too grave a matter, especially as they were in public positions. In regard to the ease against Mrs Bleasel, if was slated that she had already been fined £sll for receiving stolen property. Air. long amended the plea to one ol guilty on the betting charge. .The Chief Detective said that the woman had declared that she would still carry on.

Mr. I’oynton: Oh, a line lo her would he only a ilea-bite. On. the lirst charge 31rs Blease! was sentenced to one months imprisonment, and she. was lined £2O un each of the two oilier counts.