PHONE WIRES “TAPPED”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 964, 6 May 1930, Page 16

PHONE WIRES “TAPPED”

MAN AND WIFE CHARGED WITH INTERFERENCE SEQUEL TO BOOKMAKING CASE Press Association NAPIER, Monday. A charge of wilfully interfering with the telephone wires at his residence was preferred against Arthur Joseph Yeo in the Napier Magistrate’s Court today before Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M. Accused’s wife was similarly charged. Yeo elected to be tried by a jury, but his wife elected to be dealt with summarily. Evidence was given that Mrs. Yeo was the owner of the house, and the lessee of two telephones. An employee of the Post and Telegraph Department said he had found wires leading from the telephone lead-in wires and attached to two cup hooks in the bathroom. If a piece of metal were placed across these wires at this point the telephones would be put out of order. Witness said he had also found that wires had been tapped between the insulators and the lightning guard, and led down through a recess by the chimney. They were connected with two switches in a cupboard in the kitchen. By anyone manipulating these switches the telephones could be rendered inoperative or normal at will. Evidence was given to the effect that after a readjustment of the telephones several messages in connection with betting had been received by Be-tective-Sergeant Fitzgibbon, who also described the wiring system. The de-tective-sergeant stated, in answer to the magistrate, that the charge had been brought against Mrs. Yeo because she was the owner of the house and tho lessee of the telephones. The discovery of interference with the wires was made during a police raid in connection with a bookmaking charge, on Wl^T Ch rec ently was heavily fined. !No evidence was given for the defence, and the magistrate reserved his decision.