SENT FOR TRIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 120, 24 May 1939, Page 5

SENT FOR TRIAL.

PLEA OF NOT GUILTY.

EASTER RACES SEQUEL.

CLAIM FOR A DIVIDEND.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) PALMERSTON N.. Tuesday. The loss of two £.1 totalizator tickets during the Eoster races at Feilding, and the presentation of two tickets for collection of the dividend, had a sequel in the Feilding Police Court to-day when Sydney Herbert Hiilnie, of Palmerston Xorth. was charged with attempting to .-teal ft;.", 5/. the property of Archibald MeCorkindale. of Wairoa.

Detective-Sergeant Meiklejohn said that on the evening of the second day of the Feilding Jockey Club's Easter meeting the loss of two £■"> tickets on Lucullus Boy, which won the laet race, was reported to the secretary of the club. Accused had attended the races with hie wife and child, and the child had been occupied a good part of the day in picking Tip discarded totalisator tickets. When accused and hie wife returned home they went through the tickets and discovered two £."> ticket/*.

On the following day, added Mr. Meiklejohn, accused presented the tickets to the secretary of the club and claimed the dividend, stating that he had purchased the tickets, but. having to catch a train, had failed to collect the dividend. The secretary retained the tickets and told accused that the loss of two £.> tickets had been reported and inquiries would have to be made. The pojice had made full inquiries and had decided to prosecute.

Archibald McCorkirfdale, in evidence, said he purchased two £5 tickets on Lucullus Boy and later they were missing. He was satisfied that he had dropped them and, after the last race, he reported the fact to the secretary.

Secretary's Evidence. Edmund Guy Goodbehere, secretary of the %Feilding Jockey Club, recalled receiving a complaint from MeCorkindale as to the loss of tickets. He said there was a credit of £1.32 1.1/ on that horse. On the day following the meeting accused called and handed in two £5 tickets, which he said he had purchased, and asked for the dividend.

Witness said he told accused that a claim had been lodged for two £5 tickets which had been lost. Accused said that he had not waited to collect the dividend. At the request of witness he signed his name and address on the tickets and was told that no payment could be made immediatelv.

To Mr. Relling, counsel for accused, witness said he was unable to say how many £5 tickets were outstanding, nor could he say that the tickets were those purchased by MeCorkindale. The investments on the last race totalled £4532. Sometimes claims :n regard to lost tickets were made as late Kβ six months after a meeting. All unredeemed tickets became the property of the club.

In further examination witness said that the two £5 tickets produced were the only ones remaining unpaid in respect of the race won by Lucullus Boy.

Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being allowed in his own recognisance of £100.