BAILED OUT 77 DRUNKS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29706, 27 December 1961, Page 9

BAILED OUT 77 DRUNKS

Punter Tells His Reasons (N.Z. Preu Ann.—Copyright) SYDNEY. Dec. 26. The Sydney punter who bailed 77 drunks out of gaol yesterday, explained today why he did it. “Fifteen years ago. I was a drunk with the rest of them and knew many a night in the central cells.” he said. “Now I don’t touch a drop, but can’t help feeling sorry for drunks." The punter is Mr Louis Rigg, aged 52. a war pensioner, of Arnliffe. a southern suburb. He said today that he backed Gene San. the winner of the Villiers Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, at 15-1 and won about £4O. Yesterday morning, as he watched his grandchildren playing in the back yard, and saw his family enjoying Christmas Day, he thought about the drunks spending the day in the cells. He took his winnings and a tew pounds from his war pension savings, caught a train into the city, visited three police stations and told the surprised policemen he wanted to bail out all the drunks being held there. By the time they all had been bailed out. Mr Rigg had spent £39 10s and had about 30s left. Mrs Rigg said today that as long as her husband's set made him. happy she was happy too. "He’s an wonderfully kind person and is always doing something kind for somebody,” she said.