A RACECOURSE SWINDLER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1166, 17 April 1884, Page 3

A RACECOURSE SWINDLER.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Christchurch, on Tuesday last, John Vine Hall was charged under the Gaming and Lotteries Act with having conducted a certain lottery by which prizes were gained. Detective O'Connor stated that he was on the racecourse on Monday. The prisoner was there : he i was staoding on a box. There was a crowd around him, and ho hu.J in hia hand a bundle of envelopes, which he invited hit audience to buy at la each. He said, with the usual « patter ' of his class, that the envelopes contained tickets, a certain number of which would entitle the purthasers to money prizes. There were two confederates ' working' with him, whom witness recognised as old acquaintances. They would occasionally buy envelopes, and get prizes ; but the outsiders who, by their example, were encouraged to speculate were not so lucky. After witnessing the proceed • ings a while witness arrested the prisoner, on whose person be found 99 envelopes. Prisoner also had with him s portmanteau, which contained a great number of envelopes, implements for a game known as under and over, cards for the game of ' Banker'—so prepared that the operator could cut a high or low number at pleasure—loaded dice, and materials for 'prick in the loop.' He had also on him money to the amount of £l7 10s. Witness explained the way the envelopes were used. The prisoner held a bunch of them in his hand like a pack of cards, and presented them end on to the purchaser, who drew one out, In the 99 which were taken out of his hands there were 79 blanks, the rest being marked Is, 2s, and 3s. The sale of this bunch, if the operation were honestly conducted, would leave the bank a profit of £3 2s, but it was so contrived that a good deal more was bagged. The envelopes which contained the prizes were marked on the edge of one end with dots in ink, and when a I confederate paid a shilling the marked ends were presented to him, from which he selected as he required. But the unmarked ends were held out to bona fide speculators, who were thus enormous 1 y handicapped. The money paid to conf'do'ntes would of course return to the • bank.' TLe witness having exhibited some sleight of hand tricks with the ' properties ' before the Court, the prisoner said he thought he had been steering clear of the Act by selling the envelopes and ' giving away ' their contents. He did not dispute the tacts. He was fined £lO, which was paid, ana the implements of trade were retained by the police.—Press.