A LITTLE DOUBLE.

NZ Truth, Issue 136, 25 January 1908, Page 6

A LITTLE DOUBLE.

flow Neate was Nabbed. X couple of constables meandered tound Christchurch looking for betjting, not stoush, or beer, or women, or anything' of that sort, the other j .week, and they, picked a cronk double iwith Edgar Neate. This gentleman twaS keeping a tobacconist shop .alongside the City Hotel, and it is alleged that not only did he dispense if ags and matches and sundries, but he betted against the horses that are iswHt and strong, and those who are » j>oor and bad, to say nothing of the dead 'uns, and those that may ..be dead some day. It seems that the gentleman used to lay 'em before he started to sell tobacco leaf. That : w : as what 'Tec Gibson said, at all tevents When, he was asked to testify against Neate at the Christchurch rPolice Court. Two strange conjstaWes gave evidence, peelers William Crawford, of Wellington, and Tom JO'Grady, of Dunedin. The pair took Mhskerry and Maniopoto at ten quid to five bob, and paid as much as half 9. crown each for the bet. Such great extravagance must be discouraged m ifche public service. They said that fhe defendant Neate just simply put ffcheir initials down and gave them no .ticket-si • Anyhow, - THE MX)KES DIDN'T WIN. Barrister Cassidy asked a number ef questions, of the couple of coppers. One— Crawford— said he had only just been sworn , lit; ati ithe ".time,; but the tether, the -Wellington bloke, had been nearly two.. years.. in the.force. „ Nei^ tier had gone under false names m the city, but Crawford- admitted; that Jie had stated that .he was a farmer . iThat was when he was living, at {Sutton's City Hotel ; he subsequently stopped at .'• the police station with his mate, the Dunedinite. Mr Cassidy : There is no such thing as a farmer-constable, is there .?— No, «ir. Who sent you to this place ?—Detective Gibson.Did you get money from Gibson ?— iNo, we used our own money. Where did you come from originally ?— Lower Hutt, Wellington. , I should think farming is more profitable than police work. , ' There was further evidence, and the accused was committed for trial, Magistrate Bishop saying that a brimae facie case had been made out, knd, despite tbe new Act, he was obliged to commit seeing the _ date : the alleged offence was committed. Bail was allowed.