CHRISTMAS RACING REVELATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 143, 21 June 1904, Page 2

CHRISTMAS RACING REVELATIONS.

Result of tSie SnquSpy. OWNERS AND JOCKEY WARNED OFF FOR LTFK. INTERESTING DISCLOSURES. For the past few days there has been considerable interest unri expectation displayed with regard to some impending disclosures in connection with the racing liusco at the Taranaki Jockey Club's Christmas meeting. liu(uiries were hold at the time, and pubiic indignation was strong'. East night the club committee met to consider the very serious allegations marie by George Roberts, rider of Ranunn, against owners and jockeys interested in the horses runningl in the rare, anil to onniji'le these, Messrs J. Corrignn (owner of Kaiiana), and Pallridg'e (Hum owner of Pharos), P. .Johnson (rider of Toledo), and O.Conned (rider of Moturou). Mr O. Samuel presided, and the members present were: Messrs .las. Paul, C. M. J,epper, W. 0. Weston, C. Clarke, R. 10. Mcltae, Newton King, W. L. Newman, A. F. Thomson, A. 11. Cray, 1). O'ilrien, A. il. .Mills, V. Wntson, W, (.'. Symes. Mr J. Quilliiim, one of the stewards, was in -attendance at the request of the committee, and took a record of the proceedings. Mr Fleet-wood (secretary) was also present. Each of the parties had bwii;-serv-ed with a copy of the allegations, and attended the meeting. Mr Samuel opened the proceedings, remarking that Roberts had laid chargies against one of the men in connection with the Wanganui meeting- as well as the T-uranaki .summer meeting. The Chairman read the following

sworn testimony of George Roberts, notes of which had been taken by Mr Quilliam : —Huberts' Testimony.— Memo of interview between George Roberts, of Hawera, jockey, and Mr Oliver Samuel, chairman of the Taranaki Jockey Club, at the club's o-flice, Currie-street, New Plymouth, on 30th May, 190-1. Mr Samuel : You were the rider and trainer of the horse Ranana last season ?—Yes. Mr Samuel : In fair play I am going to wiirn you, Roberts, that if it should appear to the committee that you have been guilty of any corrupt practice you are yourself liable to he diaft'Uulilied and punished by this club.—l quite understand that. Mr Samuel : And what you are going to sny is entirely voluntary ? Yes. Mr Sunniel : Would you mind telling us if you know anything that lias not come to our knowledigv >iince the lust Christmas meeting? Robjerts : When Corrigan went to Auckland about a fortnight before tlio Christmas meeting, he told me to take the horse to Taranaki, and,

(if -there was any "fixing up" on any race, 1 was to fell whoever tried to lix up t'lii! race that I would he in it with them. When I arrived here I hoard rumours that they were trying to arrange things for tlie Jiuixlle race Hie first day ; and, when 1 went to the course with my horse the first day, J'altridge, the owner ol Pharos, came to me and asked what I would lake to "tuke hold of" Uanana. I said £BO and a liver on him (thai is J'horos). Dc argued the terms for a time. I wanted the rilO down, but ho said 'No' ; ho would give me half, unci half when J came in m M | t.he fiver on the horse ; tliat in l.e would put tihe liver oil I'liaros foi- me, and .give me £ID, and the balance when I came in and niy dividi'ml on the £5. I agreed. I said "I will want some reliablo person to hold the money." I got 1-slie a ~„|,1i...1 m ,; t lluwera, t0 hold the money. I did not tell Li«lie wliat tliw money was for. I detided to "Jiave a go on niv own." J invested JilO of his £1 f, on ltunalla I won.. Afu-r the races I'altridee lame to me ami asked for his money |jae,k. I told him to go to u e also went to Leslie awl asked fol . the money back. Leslie held a che«uo far. £lB and two £1 notes. The cheque was oi.e of Wyllie's, 0 f Waiara I told to give the mon«Y to me. Leslie handed tlie money «ver to nic. It was understood bewo with I'altridge that 1 was to im'ive tlie money after the rac. whatever happened. Leslie held it o-ii these conditions. When PaUridee urn Palt,-idge then threatened to who ,1, Ch f ,Me ' r CO ' M »«* ■*«* . l'» w,w W,Ue WttS mfl, *> PWoMe ',',■„, b ? k """"Veer (Mcintosh, I think, and stop the cheque. I said tiy and d„ so ." Jt wug cl cflkje and I cashed it at the S ja7 Unit finished that'day's wor k. I n Oje ■tvenrng 1 wired to (j OlTi Vir« me if I did right." (1 S o t „ otter n reply from t) ,e steward of tin Uaiuivu on iUoiHiay morning "hid 1 destroyed). On ~h o Sund uo-vt day,) they came to me again that is O'fJoimell, the rider of Hoi tii'i.a came to me, and said I had piuyod him a dirty trick. I told him T could not stop my horse. I said 1 would find out from Corriwan " I fould fix things up next dav for them. O'Connell said "All right " do Mr Sttuiuol : O'Conaell did not tell me lor w hom he eame.) I sent a tolegram to L'orrigam on the vSunda.V night : "Can find winner of hurdles if you like." On the Monday

" lol ""'« *'""•">• «'ter the post. ollice opened l g ,,t u rep , y ~.„,„ ColTi All right. I wired him that it wusi lharos-j..st the name. I added o the wire "Reply racecourse," „nd 101dh,,,, t., put on £r, forme. iV cenvd a reply from Corrigian "Your ~ ,V 1, , a, 'f »" "tfht. Look out they don t rule you' with jUoturoa lie cureiui." After that I mot Paltridge on the course. We had a talk. He asked me whether I would -'come at it again." I Sla . i( , ~Y (. S >. , i( th( lound enowgh money. Partridge said he ■ would not come at it again" unless 1 gave him fi „r 71ba of my ■«kl> when J came out. I arranged o *!<> so. I was to .get £l3 from him in cash and £ls out of the stakes and the £f> on tho winner (Pharos). When I went to weigh out Pallndge enmo in with me. I hail seven pieces of lead with me in my hand under Hie saddle. I passed him Hie lead as soon as 1 got oil the scales, ami he I'oWowed me out and saw me saddle my horse up. He said to make sure there would be no mess this time he would "answer"

me the balance of the money as soon us I gut oil'. 1 had got the £IH in cash when I gave him the lead. When 1 went out into Um* straight he watched mo. Johnson then took charge, and will "You had better get to the outside and 1 will shoot you oil at the first fence." The hurdles were only three or four wide. The four horses iu the nice started about the middle of the course—none close to the rails. As we came to the first hurdle I kept my horse running wide, and JoJmson ignive me no chance to jump it, and 1 pulled my horse oil'. 1 walked m. I was not asked to weigh,. .Air Samuel : What wus next said to you by anyone'! Huberts : I'ultridge came to me and usfied if ] W ns starling Rnnana in the Welter. 1 said "Yes, 1 thought so. He said if I "would take hold ol him" again he coukl lind the winner. I said 1 would, lie was to put the .tin In. promised me on Inglcwood. When we jumped ofT at the mile post I pulled my .horse in behind the. other three, and wus behind until wo came to the mile and a ((uurtcr. 1 passed Alus there, and the lHjy was riding hi,,, pro tty hard. My horse was going protty well. Coming rmm <l the l wm | J ming o||l to Johns,,,,, on Lurcher to pull out. He pulled out, and I got half way up, a»d ho came in again on me and slung his reins over my whip hand, and wo got tangled up lowther. This was at the distance Jnglewood g»t a 'bit of a jig on then and Jolmsan let mo out to chase

him. Johnson said nothing wliile this was going nn. 1 bad mentioned to him going- oiii lo | In: ]jo.sl. iihulif I sung out i.o him to open out lie waa to givo m.y hoi'su a Srump aa ha Would be pretty hard to slop. Mr Samuel : That, ivhh to help you in accounting for lu ,t winning! the race ?

Roberts : Yes, I cumo in .second ; lliu .bump prevented nu: from winning ami gave me an excuse for not winning. lnfele»o o d won.

Mr Samuel : When ilid you get the balance of the money ?

.Roberta : J have not got it. I have several times asked Pal-nidge for it, the last dime in Wai(giamu. There was no one -near when J. us ked him.

ilr .Samuel : Then, according to his agreement, he was to give you £lO cash out of the stakes that Pharos lirnd won ami the proceeds of thirteyn tickets on lnglewood ?—Y<?s.

Itabl'i-ts, continuing : Corrigan sent me to flic cup meeting at Whiuganun to run the horse. Il t . sent me a wire on the morning of the races which 1 received on the course saying •'Met with accident ; can-t attend. Don't try to-day. Accept Hat race only to-morrow. He carei'»l. I'm £1 on Heroism for mo." •lust before this a stranger came to ne and gave me a letter from J. L res-swell, ilnrybunk, Waaiiganui The «•')'<■• t of it was that Cor.rig.au had telephoned to Cre.wwell a t Wu.ngamii and u was worded almost the same as the wiri-nol t () try that day. Cresswcll sa.d his little girl was ill umi , 10l lilct>ly tQ j. t , eov un<l 'he could not come inure was a postscript at the bottom ol the letter, "Please destroys soon us read." I kept it. 1 have a now. 1 think it wait in my portmanteau which 1 have lent. I have Uonitfan's wire, but not with Jme to-day. 1 rode that day in the \ hurdles aind civmo in 'nSb'out. The second day Corriigan sent me another wire to start the horse in tliu Plat Race only. I tore it up. The wording of the wire was '>Try get Stump up do same yesterday. Be careful who you put on top." I did not start the horse at all.

ill- Samuel : We will get back again to tht' race you won with Itanium. Did anyone else besides l'altriidge spoak to you ou the sulbjj»ct ol that lace ?

Roberts : Johnson spoke to mo about the hurdle race on the lirsl day that Ranana won. When we pulled up before coming in to weigh ho said "You cur ; you hod a go on your own." J said "No ; 1 could not stop him. They wore making it too deadly." He said "I know different. You never intended lo take hold of him." There was no one neur us at the time.

Mr Samuel : Did any of the other jockeys sjxjak to you ? Roberts : I told O'Connell that I could not stop him, us we came back to weigh. Mr Samuel : What did O'Connell say ?

Roberts : He laughed. Mr Samuel : You had no further conversation with O'Connell or with Harlow ?—No.

Mr Samuel : So far as you actually, know the other (Barlowl) was not in it? '

Roberts : 1 did not trouble to unci out. Johnson lost the most money, and did the most squealing. Mr Samuel : Wo .will come to the second race. That is the race in which you did act up to your promise. You have told us that you told Johnson what ho was to do. Did you have any conversation with him alter it was over ?

Roberts : As wo were going in to the inquiry I told Johnson to say that he hoard me singing out for room. Ho said he would.

Mr Samuel : Did you call out for room '.'—Roberts : Xo.

Mr Samuel : Did Johnson ha\o any other conversation with you about the subject afterwards, or at the time or before the second inquiry the day after the second day's racing ?

Kobortfl : Ho had further conversation with me, .but I don't remember what passed.

Mr Samuel : Did you |, llvu „ llv fl(| ._ ther conversation wil.li any of the other jockeys ?

Roberts : I saw O'Connell ana Harlow on the night of the adjourned n(ci(uiry at the club's- rooms while wo were waiting. 1 told them to say they heard me sing out for room at the hurdles. Thcv said they would, but they did not. I had no further conversation with them. Mr Samuel : Did you know O'Connell was running stiff ? Huberts : 1 cun't say.

i!r Samuel): 'After your third race, after Inglcwoud won, 'did you have any conversation with any of Ilium then ?

Koberts : No'; I took my horse home.

Mr Samuel : You understand that unless youi have some sort of writing these men will simply say yon are a liar, that is unless you havo something to back you up ? Roberts: I have wires "from Corrigan, and I can get copies from the post office, and I have his wire to Wanganui and one wire " Very satisfied with your action. Don't implicate anyone at the inquiry." Tho wire is signed " Jim." That was agreed with Corrigan to be his signature.

Mr Samuel : Will you try to get tho wires or copies'?

Koberts : I don't want to go to any expanse, f am not doing this to satisfy the Racing Club, but for my own ends.

Mr Samuel : We will pay the expense of your travelling expenses and a fair amount for each day. That is all we can do. Please give us particulars of the telegrams, Koberts : The first telegram was one on Sunday evening (December ■27 th) addressed "J.aiuos Oorrigan Slonebnrst, Auckland." The next is one from him t () ,„ Cj which I received on Monday, the l>Bth, on the racecourse, signed "Jim." Another was from me to Corrigan, •Tut five for me Pharos. Havo good bet yourself." His reply, "Your £5 Pharos. Ho careful that, they don't rule you Moturoa." After ,the races! got the telegram "Very satisfied, do not implicate anyone at inifniry." I had posted him a letter on the Monday night, explaining things, and this last telegram was in reply to my last letter. As to the Wanganui telegrams, 1 have one received on the first day, which 1 will send in (Signed) (). ItODEHTS. 1, Goorgo Holwrts, of Hawera, jockey, do solemnly and sincerely declare : That 1 have read the foregoing memorandum and statement, and that it truly and correctly describes what took place at the interview mentioned at) the top of the first page, and that all statements made by me as set forth in tho foregoing memorandum and statement are in every respect true. And 1! n m ke this solemn declaration, conscientiously tiie same IJej ha t;i*ue,: a)«il by virtue of the provisions of an Act of the General Assembly of New Zealand intituled "The Justices of the Pence Act, 1882."

GEORGE ROBERTS. Declared at New Plymouth this Bth day of dune, 190 a, before me, Stamp 2s oa a.», 8/0/04 J. H. (WILLIAM, A Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. COPIES OP TELEGRAMS AND LETTER. 1. "New Plymouth, Dec. 2(5, 190;-). "James Corrigitn, Stonehurst, Auckland. "Wire mo to-night, if 1 done right. "GEORGE." 2. "New Plymouth, Dec. 27, 190:). "Oorrigan, Stonehurst, Auckland. ' "Ten six and nino ten can find winner hurdles and try other if like. "GEORGE." 3. "Aucklaad, Dec. 2S, ]<) OH. "Roberts, Jones' Stables, ' New Plymouth. "Letter with chief steward Rurarawa. Win hurdles if possible. "CORRIGAN." 4. "New Plymouth, Dec. 25, 1903, "Corrigun, Stonehurst, Auckland. "Have good ■hot Pharos. Put five for mo. Only won by head Saturday. Wire to ms racecourse. 'GEOBGE.''

0. "Auckland, Dec. 28, ]!)(!!!. "George Roberts, care Mick Jones, New I'lyinouth. "Very satisfied with your letter. Don't implicate anyone at inquiry. •■"JIM"." <>. "Central Hotel, Auckland, N.Z. Tuesday, 190 S. "Dear George,—Your letter to hand this morning, and I hope you get. out of the scrape at New Plymouth nil right. He Opunake 1 think the hurdles look a good thing for you there ; also the handicap. Have you secured a good hoy to ride in the Handicap ? If not, be sure and get one before the lust minute. I was very pleased at your actions in New Plymouth. You did ([itite right to take the down. It is a. good job you did not take hold of him the iirst day, or you would have left, me in the muck. Write and let me know before Opunake what you think of things, mid what, chance you have grot. Try and win the double thero if possible "Cup and Hurdles," and if he is going well you can have, a go at the treble ; then give him n rest after that until I come home. J should be home about the (ith. If you see Jack Oasserly, tell him my address I will be Ellerslie Kacecourse on the Ist and 2nd January.

"Tell Duncan there are 1(5 sheep in Fantham's saleyard paddock, and to take them home to the Oaks. I forgot to tell him before 1 left about them.

"You can wire me New Year's morning to Slonehurst, and if you think it. won't reach me before It o'clock wire then to Ellerslie racecourse.

"Well, good-bye and good luck.— Yours truly, •J. R. CORRIGAN." 7. "Ilawcra, March 8, 1904. "George iioberts, Wanganui Rucecoursi'. "Met accident, cannot attend ; don't try to-day. Accept flat race only to-morrow. He careful. Put one pound Heroism Cup for me. "JIM." 8. "Hawern, March 4. 11)04. "George Roberts, Wanganui Racecourse. "Try get Stump up. Do same yesterday. Be careful who you put on top.

"CORRIGAN." In answer to Mr Samuel, RoMerts stated that he had not found the other wire mentioned. The cheujie for £l3, drawn by Wyllie, was produced, as also were copies of above interesting telegrams which passed between Corrigan and Roberts during the Turunaki and Wanganui meetings. Mr Samuel remarked that if there were any gentlemen on the committee who were in any way connected with the race under notice, or with the persons changed, it would be only right that they should not sit in judgment. Later in the evening he wotdd mention this again, in order to give such gentlemen a chance of retiring, lest it should bo said that the charges wore 'hoard iby persons who were biassed in any way. The uhairiuan : Now, Huberts, are your statements, as read, correct and true ? Roiberts : Yes. The chairman ; Absolutely true ? Roberts : Yes. The chairman : You are sufficiently conversant with racing matters to know thsit your statements are quite sullieient to convict you of corrupt practices on the turi' ? Ro>berts : Yes. .Mr Corrigan admitted the authenticity of the telegrams and letters produced, regretting that Roberts luad not kept the letter sent by him through tlio chief steward of the Harawa. That would have shown matters in a different light. The evidence was then taken. —Mr Corrigau's Evidence,—

James- Conigan statod he was the owner of Ranann, and Hearts was in his employment looking after the horse. lioforo going to Auckland just before Christmas ho instructed Roberta to tuke tho horse to the Timmnki races, being convinced that lie could win the hurdles om the first day. He distinctly told Roberts to •go strictly on his own, and not to 'iix up" the races with anyone. Before leaving Hawern he told a man •amed liesiey that he could back Ranana in the hurdles on the first day, .but he was not to give away the information except that he might on the day of the races tell his "boss." He got his iirst news from Roberts on December 2«Ui to the effect that Ranana had won. He 'had not kept any of tho corresDondence. He could not understand a further telegram from Roberts asking if he had done right. He had replied that he was iCfUite satisfied and asked Itaberts to' send him tlie second day's weights. Then on Hie. •second day , K . , wd recoiV()d awj Iron. Roberts Unit i lO collki fllK , „ winner ot the hurdles, and try the :«ther if he (Corrigan) liked. R* ets had not kept the only lettei that would have helped him at all lie lettei- sent by the Rarawa's of tho muck." i,i that i ottt ,,. h ; structed Roberts not to start in tl.c nurd es but in the welter, pointing out that he had already incurred pt naltu* for. the Opunuke meeting .Vt to clock on the Monday ho received Roberts' wire "Havo go,*! bot on I haros. Rut f,vo on for me. Only won by head on Saturday." He did not know until he saw* the pal>ers that Ranana ran in the hurdles on the second day. lie concluded that Robert.i had acted on his written instructions to scratch Ran-

lana in the hurdles. He thought Moturoa could win on tho handicaps, hence his reference to that hora; "ruling" Koberts. Witness wus unoMe to produco the letter from Roberts which lie noted as "very satisfactory." He again asserted iio wus not connected with the swindle, and animadverted on Koberts' character. To tiie best of his memory ltoUbrls wrote that two or three hud wanted to "ready up" the race, hut although he had promised to fix matters he had not kiept faith with them—had beat them. J.le had not meant unytlung whon he told Roberts not to implicate anyone else at the iHcjiuiry. Roberts had told him that certain persons offered him JtiiO "to take hold of Ranaina," and lie

(Corritgati) thought the jockey quite iu getting even by turning the tallies on them. Tliu chairman : Did y ou undorstand that ho had got tins £3O ? Witness : No. The chairman : Why did you say it was a good tiring) that Hearts had not taken a hold on Kairuna on the first day, remarking that if would have put you in the mud ? Witness : Well, if he had pulled the -horse on the first day I would have keen in the mud. I h«<l .LflU on him. The chairman : Then ho was i oyal to you on the first day i Witness : Yes. The Wnnganui incident was then inquired into. Tho witness said the messages (copies produced} were written under a pro-concerted code The chairman : Well, what do they mean? What docs ''don't try" mean ?—to try, i-h ? Witness : That's another thing that Huberts has kept back. We Juwl a code.

Hoiberls :I never had a code from you in my life.

Evidence continued : The code was arranged tt t Roberts' own suggesloii. It was for the purpose of keepmg inlormation from telegraph messengers and from those people who hung after them for information. Mr Samuel: Yes, it's n very useful thing—a code. Witness stated that the code was e» ablisfed in January, before Roberts went to Foxton, and Roberts hiwl n copy of it. f,,?',' hTi,'- Cn " W ' atta »t i on to the fact that this 'code' was written on a leaf of the pocket-hook oinoitoxt a mumper of March and April entries. . ' Mr Corrigan adhered to the statement that this code was written in January on the doorstep of the feed room in Princes Bllwt> ivawew. " "on t try to-day" meant "backing horse." 'Racking norso tOJtray .F meant M not backing' him." " Not try to-day 1 ' means that ho should

■"send mo the name of the horse having the best chance in llio raw." Witness added that .lack Cameron was engaged to ride I lie luir.se on that day, but Roberts rode himself. Mr Gibson, in liaueru. told him the horse was as "dead as a herring." That was tho lii'St intimation he had had of his- horse's running. Gibson advised him not to start on the second day, as if lionana won there would lie u row. He said "Let him win, and 1 hope there will be a row." (iiOison's information was U,f lirst he hud hod. Then he wiied away to Huberts in Wiingnnui. He might have wired uway before ho saw .Air Gibson. | Mr Samuel : Look at this tcleigram, 'Phut may refresh your memory. The telegram saysi "Do stone yesterday."

Witness : I thought he had ridden a winner tho first day. Mr Samuel : He would need to be equalh careful to put a good man on top \.:.ether he was to win or lose, oil ? Witness thought not. .Mr Corrigan said that was the first time he had any idea that Roberts wus a scoundrel, lie had nev«r ridden lianana since. To Mr Thomson : Roberts was in I his employ for about 18 months 'but had never looked after u horse for him before this. He hud ridden | Hawcru. There had bevn no rode ill Art ween them before that one mentioned l n evidence. When lie left home he told Roberts (o go and do the best he could, and to mix up with nobody.

Witness continued : He und RoV erts had never had an un-grv word, ■but Roberts 'set him' because he wus not allowed to ride in the Century hurdles on the last day of the Wanganui meeting Roberts' went to .Mr Cresswell and suit] "I've got your letter und the boss' telegram • and if I don't got £IOO out of it 1 will lay it before the stewards ,Mr Samuel said there was nothing incredible in the statement that lioIxTts had tried to extort money to make him hold his tongue. —liolberts Maintains His Story.— Roberts, in examination, said he udhered to his declaration. The copy by memory of a letter sent I>v Corrigan by the steward of the liarawa was not correct ; the real thing was totally different In it Corrigan fold him to find out the "gltt thing i„ ,„« hurdles that day to wire him (Corrigan) and take hold oi Rainvna. He (Roberts) p„ m the. words "only won by u head on Saturday" us a safoguard. The ■otter produced hy Corrkran purrmrmg to be a w „'es • eer was nothing like it . !„ s cater he said the welter W as a good thing at Opunake. fc " Mr Corrigan said that Hotels' tale ot the lnglewo„d alfair was a pure fabrication.

Roberts maintained that all was done according to instructions He nd CoS' ° f , 1 C ° d " »***«■» W'» ntur see,, it. It was an invention t°v' 'T USCti atFoxton. io Mr O'Rrien: There was no blackmail. He had met Mr Ciwswuli q l a l T nu ! I «*«• IoM him he had Ins letter. Ho said -Thafs a dirty - ttang to do George ; why a lS mad°e "'," U? " N « «" was made of numey, hut witness Saul he would use the letler i„ eWd ™ee, as he would want all he could

Mr Paul : What is your object i„ this chargoU Roberts: Ho took me off the horse, and galloped him off his a'S'.ir T P ui,,s onl y » Pound to L TJ hat » did not w ««»■ Jo Mr Weston : J knew I could be ?. «i° P 10du «» too telegrams. Mr Weston : Then why should they he sent? Why should Corrigan greottT **» ta " '« •

Mr Corrigan proceeded to cull evidence. —Other Witnesses.— Frank liesley, stock salesman nl hti'utlord, gavu evidence thai Corrigan had told him to buck Hamvna in the first day's Hurdles in New I l.vmouth. He was to tell no one '•■ wept that „„ the day of the races he might tell Mr Newton King. This it-' did. Nothing was said ahout the second day. William Christie, stock URl .,,t, of Munaia, said hu was with Mr Corrigan at Auckland at Christmas He told witness and Mr Glenn that Ranana had a good chance in (he hurdles on the (list dav in New Plymouth. On the second day he told witness that Ranana was "not starting in tho hurdles. They should buck Pharos in that race, and Ranaim m the welter. Worse luck he couldn't get the money on. Mr Glenn was not able to come lo the inquiry, but was prepared to swear that these words were used. To Mr Thomson : Roberts said there was no time to send Mr Corrigan the til) about Inglewood in the welter.

—Anot hoi- Charge.— The committee proceeded to the next charge. Hugh Pal bridge, who was the owner m December of Pharos, said he hud had no conversation with Roberts on that day until after the hurdle race, lie had never previouslv spoken to him. A gentleman in Wuilara, Mt- Wyllio, approached him on the morning of the first day's races, ui connection with an arranged commission on tho ruces. il 0 h tt d tokl Mr Wyllie that there was no danger irom Hananu, He liad onlv seen him three times over the hurdles, once at Alarton, when he fell. This was stopped, and the evidence conlined to the day in question. Pallridge said he asked Roberts lor his £2 hack, lie hod given Urough £ls between 12.80 and 1 o'clock that day. Brough was Ranana's trainer, and he was to put it on Kanana if he thought lit. Brough said he had giiven the money to Hob*. Crts, saying "I haven't got the horse now, Roberta has him." Witness would not have given the money hud he known Brough was not in charge of tho horse, lie only asked for £2 because that was tho amount of his own interest. The rest was Wyllie's Me. said "I want my £2." The-mon-ey was not paid hack. Then went to Hoborts, and Hoborts Maid he had given it to Leslie. Leslie sent him back to Roberts, and when the two were brought fuce to lace Hoborts said "You can go to for your money." Witness did not know Leslie at all. He hud been friendly with Brough for years. Gave no money to Leslie. The lirst he heard of him was from Hoberts. The latter suid he couldn't stop Rnnana, and the money wus on Pharos. Lis ouey givui to Brough was in' tin ■ ...* oi a saver. ir Hamuel reud a (lu-iaraWon from

• nexai.der Leslie, of Hawera, tliut tultridge Jiad hu:,c!ed him fifteen pounds. After tl,e race he met Roberts, and gave, him the money, without knowing anything wus wrong. Witness said that declaration wus false, 110 regretted he could not produce llrough, who was now in Auckland. J-Iu detailed the conversation somewhat us follows : l'altridgo : Is Huit money right ? Roberts : What money ',' l'altridgo : .My money.

liolyerts : I gave it to Leslie. Witness then went and found Leslie, saying "You've got that dividend of mine oil' Itananu." He said "I got no dividend. 1 had Roberts' money and I gave it buck to him after the race." Witness went back to Huberts, who said thai Leslie knew all about the money. Itoberts said "1 put the money oil Pharos," adding, "bin. 1 couldn't stop lianana. You can go to for your 'money." There were no definite instructions to put the money on Runana. Witness asked for Iris money. Witness continued that, be had, in coilKeiq.ueilco of u . good gallop by Pharos, instructed Wylli■• to back the horse heavily, ami that was (lone long before he ever saw llaiuma or Roberts. Wyllie had £l::r> on Pharos, witness Jilt), nnd Harlow £l. Mr Samuel : That's all the more reason why you should pay £BO to keep Ranuna down ? Mr Paltridge: No, all the more reason why I should have a silver. 1 never got. the money from Roberts. On the secowd day I had a short conversation with Roberts, j Koberts said "I couldn't stop that |

horse on I'Yklay, but I will fix Wn« to-day." Witness said "I want no transaction with you whatever. What I want is my •money." 1 bock- • ed l'huroti, pur. £l2 on him. and he J won. Took no lend from Robert*. ™ Saw Roberts weighed, and weiffhod his own horso out. Had no dealing* with Roberts whatever that day. Clot the £l3 cliche from Wylli e that day. / it was Wyllie's suggestion to Bftve«". on lianana. -lJ& Roberts said the story of this witness Was false. Ho adhered to fail sworn evidence.

Percy Johnson was then interrogated as to his part in tihe allogpd incident in the race. Roberta alleged Johnson had told him to keep to the outside, and gave him no chance to jump the hurdle. Johnson said he was the first oao to canter round' the starting post and the Unit one i to go down to the UTBt hurdle. H* M had no chance to speak to Roberta. I He hud not heai-d Roberts coll outVj for room. Could not say if Itanana. jumped the hurdle or not, as that horse was a little behind. Witncaa '.j rode Toledo in No. 3 position. In * the lirst three hurdles there was little to choose. Pharos at the third hurdle was inside, Moturoa ncxt.then Toledo, and lianana had a wing and a hurdle left for him. (Witness' statements at the original inquiry were read, wherein he said Roberts did call out for room. ness suid he did not remember this.) There was no truth in Roberts' stutement that witness gave no room for him to Jump the hurdle, (Mr Samuel pointed out that' the witness ut the former imqjulry favoured Roberts.) Witness could not remember Hanana gotting bumped in the welter on the second day. Roberts picked up witness' reins wit* his whip, und. they got tanked, libs was not pro-arrangud. Never called Roberts a cur, or alleged he had had a cut "on his own."

Roberts still adhered to hlg sworn testimony, but asked no questions. To Mr o'Urien : Every jockey look* * out for himself.

To the chairman : He had put money on the machine for other peo- m Pl«- • To Mr Paul : He had never board of one owner giving another interested owner in a race money to invert • on the horso of the second man. O'Connell, rider of Moturoa, said '■'< lie had had no conversation witfc Ko-DOTtB on the Sunday re arranging 1 the race. ... •

Roberts still adhered to his sworn evidence, and asked no questions. William Symons, who had assisted at the Christmas meeting, said be and Mr Bailey had put up Ave hw> dies and a wing for the 'hurdle rocs. The horses wero not close to ih» rails, but running out. No horso was close to the roils to the timo ' they took the first hurdle. The In- > side horso took the second or U» third hurdle from the rail, certainly not the first. He did not know the I horses at all. They seemed to havo room. Heard no cry for room. Saw one horso run off, but could see no reason.

To Mr Johnson : There was one hurdle, a broken one, lying In iiu> ditch. Mr llailey would corroborate this.

Johnson said that there wero only four hurdles and a wing, with two hurdles lying in the ditch. Mi' Corrigan addressed a few remarks to the committee, explaining the circumstances. He had been un- t able, until ho saw Roberts, to understand tile letter's query "Have I done right ?" The lotter by the chief steward would have cleared him (Mr Corrigan): Told Roberta not to j start in the hurdles, but to go for '" the welter. Until last Monday he had not,known ltanana was not a tryer. Just because he and Mr ' Cresswell refused to give Roberts £IOO, he had invented this fabrication. Witness was not connected with the swindle at all.

Roberts said that Corrigan'SA knowledge of Ranana's starting proved by the wire to look out that Moturoa did not rulo him in •ace. What chance, ho asked, had bo uf preventing that if he were not a darter, standing on the ground? Johnson said he had had any anioiint of chances of hindering Roberts, had lie wished, in the welter. ' The committee considered tho evidence in camera, but before closing ' the doors Messrs Newton King and I l '. Watson left the room, they being somewhat interested, as Johnson trained their horses. : -The Findings. -

After short deliberations, the following decisions wero arrived at: y That James Corrigan, Hugh Palt* "idge, and George Roberts be warn•d off and disqualified for life; That there is not sufficient corroborative evidence to connect Percy Johnson with tho affair, and no further action will bo taken.

O'Connell was already under dfa- i qualification for two years for his part in tho incident.

The inquiry closed shortly before eleven o'clock.