RACEHORSE DEAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1920, Page 5

RACEHORSE DEAL.

ALLEGATIONS OF PERJURY. ECHO. W CIVIL ACTION. By Telegraph.—Press Association Palmerston N., Last Night. F S. Easton, racehorse owner, Foxton, appeared before Mr. Wyvevn Wilson, S.M., to-day on four charges of alleged perjurv. The prosecution was directed by Mr. .7. L. Stout, S.M., as a result of the hearing of a civil case, Eaiton v. Wright, heard at Foxton tccer tly. liaston claimed £2OO on a dishonored chtque given in purchase of the horse Stevens by Wright in lflll. Wright claimed that Easton agreed to take the hoise back. As witness had been disqualified Easton had said he had not presented the cheque, and the horse was accordingly sent back. Trask, a horse trainer said Stevens had been subsequmtly leased to him, he to receive either 15 or 20 per cent of the winnings. Thii lease had been drawn up in Easton's office on Easton's estate and signed by them both, and subsequently posted to the secretary of the Racing Conference for registration. Stevens had been raced in his name, and when the horse had broken down Easton Had given him to witness.

The secretary of the Racing Conference said he had 3een the registration of the lease of Stevens from Easton to Tre.sk. The lease had been burnt, and witness could not swear to the signature.

The Clerk of the Court at Forton said Barton denied at the hearing of the civil case that he had leased Stevens to Trask, that he had subsequently given him to Trask when he had broken down, or that the horse had ever been back on his place after he had been sold to Wright. Easton had explained the fact that he had not presented the cheque until July, 1920. 9 years after it had been given to him, by the fact that he had known Wright was short of funds. When he heard of Wright's winnings at the Wellington winter meeting he had presented the cheque, and it had been dishonored

Mr. T. M. Wilford, for the accused, reserved his defence, and the accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail wai allowed in £IOO on his own recognisances.