SAID HE WAS A JOCKEY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 14, 15 January 1913, Page 7

SAID HE WAS A JOCKEY.

AND BORROWED £llO. ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. There were two charges listed at the Paddington (Sydney) Police Court on 3rd hist, against Harold Myers (20), and Elsie Parkes (18). In ono case they were charged with conspiring together, between February 1 and July 17 last, to cheat and defraud Mary Ann Elizabeth Oram of the sum ol £llO. The other charge alleged that, at Paddington, on July 17, they falsely pretended to Mrs. Oram that Myers and William' Black, a jockey, and that he had to appear at a certain enquiry before the committee of the Australian Jockey Club, at Melbourne, by means of which false pretence they obtained from Mrs. Oram the sum of £\lo, .with intent .to .defraud. ~

The conspiracy charge was first proceeded with.

Mr. H. A. Moss appeared to prosecute, and Mr. R. H. Levien appeared for both accused.

Detective Thomas Malone said he had known, the male accused for two years. His name was Harold Myers, and he had been employed as a junior porter at the Sydney Railway Station. Witness had occasion, on May 16, 1912, to arrest the male accused on a charge in which the loss of some property, including a card-case, was concerned.

William Black, a licensed jockey, registered under the A.J.C. (New South Wales) , and V.R.C. (Victoria), as well as under the pony clubs oi both States, said he had never seen either of the accused before. Witness had a mount on Trafalgar in the Melbourne Cup in 1911. He knew of no other jockey named Black who had a mount in that race. He was not aware of such a club as the “A.J.G., Melbourne.”

Mary Ann Elizabeth Oram, a married .woman, residing with her husband at 36, Ormond Street, Paddington, said that Myers used to visit the female accused, who lived at her house from October, 1911, until (July, 1912. The female accused said she was a waitress at the Hotel Metropolo. Witness knew the male accused as William Black, a jockey. Parkes led her to believe that Myers was a wealthy jockey. Myers said his father lived in Bathurst, and owned big racing stables. On the Saturday before last Easter, when both of , the accused were at witness’s house, the male accused asked witness to back the horse Jacaniiir. She gave him £3 for the purpose, and he brought her back £6. Mr. Smithers, S.M.: You were lucky to have got £3. Witness, continuing, said that at Myers’s request she and the fernal accused went to the races on Easter Monday, and she speculated £6 on a race, but did not win. After Easter the male accused said ho was going t<. Melbourne to ride'there. He showed her a booklet, which had the name rf William Black in it, and it also contained a reference to an Adelaide license. The male accused borrowed £lO from witness to secure some papers connected with a horse, When the male accused came back from -‘.elbourne his head, legs, and arms were in bandages. Ho explain'''! that his injuries had been canned by the horse at the Mnonee \ alley races s ipping and falling with him. H<> cold witness that he received £ ;(K'o for winning the lMoon.ee Valley Cap. The female accused was present at the time. Myers told witness that i r> rod > Trafalgar in the Melhouru ■> Tup rl 1911, and that he got 0390(1 f. r pulling him. He said that when lie di 1 not win the public threw bottles f.t him. On one occasion lie showed witness a cheque for £2500, which, ho sa; 1

ho had won. He added that he had won another £2OOO at the races. Ho stated later, that Detective Jack Terry had taken the cheque away from him because lie bad been warned off the racecourse for two years. The male accused told witness that lie had to go to Melbourne to show cause to the “A.J.C.” there why ho should not return the sum of £35,000 for tampering with horses, and asked her for the loan of £llO to assist in defraying his expenses. The female accused was not present when the male accused asked for the loan of money, nor was she present when the money was handed to Myers, although she had lent witness her leather bag for the purpose of carrying the money from the bank. The money was given to Myers on July 17 last. Witness never doubted his word for a moment. He gave her a promissory note for The amount.

Mr. Smithers: You were easily taken in.

The witness said she believed she was lending the money to William Black, the jockey. After hearing further evidence, Mr. Smithers said there was no case established against the female accused, and both of the accused were accordingly discharged on the charge of conspiracy. ,

Tfie evidence in the ' conspiracy charge was taken as evidence in the case for false pretences, and Myers was formally committed for trial on the latter charge, the female accused being also discharged in connection with this charge.