ROBBED OF PRIZE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 3, 5 January 1931, Page 9

ROBBED OF PRIZE.

WINNER OF SWEEPSTAKE.

ANCIENT LAW INVOKED. "FIRST INFORMANT" AWARDED £1400. (From' Our Own Correspondent.) VANCOUVER, December 8. . After having won 73C3 dollars on a horse race sweepstake, Arthur Gann found himself deprived of the money when Charles R. Sonley, an accountant, instituted legal action. He claimed, and it was upheld in Court, that under an ancient clause of the Canadian criminal code prohibiting betting, it was stipai lated that the first person informing the authorities of a man having won money in a betting contest was entitled to have the money forfeited to him. As a result a Court order was issued, stipulating that the money be paid over to Sonley. Gann immediately instituted an appeal to the Courts. I'or the time being the matter rests there. Officials of the Canadian Department of Justice expressed surprise to find the clause mentioned in the criminal code. Investigation revealed that it was adopted bodily from an old Imperial Act which was created in.the reign, of Vjhailea 11. for the suppression of gambling. News of the unique legal action having been broadcast, A. P. Da we, of this city, who next ' day won 409,000 dollars on the November Handicap in Manchester, immediately had his brother lay suit against him as the first informant.