THE TURF FRAUD,

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1922, Page 5

THE TURF FRAUD,

MRS. PEEL ACQUITTED. HUSBAND SENT TO GAOL. SENTENCE OF TWELVE MONTHS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright, London, March 14. Mrs. Peel was acquitted, Mr. Justice Darling holding the doctrine that when a woman committed a crime like thia in the physical presence of her husband the law prescribed that she acted under his coercion. Peel was ■sentenced to 12 months in, the second division. Received March 15, 7.55 p.m. London, March 14. There was a fashionable crowd in Court to witness the end of the Peel case. After the evidence for the prosecution had concluded, Mr. Justice Darling said the doctrine of coercion went back to the times of Canute, but no longer. In accordance with the facts of life, it was absurd to say now that a woman dare not contradict ,her husband. Nevertheless, he was bound to apply the doctrine to Mrs. Peel. With a happy smile the accused tripped out of the dock and took her seat beside her father and mother, Sir Robert and Lady Jardine, while the husband was brought into the dock, x Several officers gave evidence of Peel’s bravery, stating that he captured six Germans single handed. Mr. Justice Darling said the fraud placed Peel outside the pale of gentlemen. It was right that his punishment, direct and indirect, should be heavier than that of poor people, as he was under no real temptation.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Captain Owen Peel, son-in-law of Sir Robert Jardine, ano his wife, ware charged in connection with the dispatch of 45 telegrams to various bookmakers, backing Paragon in the Duke of York ( Stakes. The prosecution alleged that the Peels ascertained by telephone that the horse had won before they presented the telegrams at a countryside post office. Some bookmakers paid out on f the bets, but others questioned the time of lodgment, and requested inquiries. It was further alleged that the accused induced the postmaster to enter a false time of receipt on the messages. The Peels stood to win £4600. Peel pleaded guilty, and his wife not guilty.