STATE LOTTERY

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 121, 16 February 1926, Page 7

STATE LOTTERY

CAUSES EXCITEMENT IN ITALY COUNTRY ABSORBED W GAMBLING HUNCHBACK TIPSTER REGARDED AS HERO Bi Telegraph.—Pbess Association. CoPtrigHt. Rome, February 14. The whole of Italy forgot the Mus-solini-Stresemann controversy in the crisis of the State lottery yesterday, when the excitement was at the highest pitch. A hunchback named Tortaca has lately been forecasting the winning numbers with extraordinary accuracy. He never backed his own tips, but was content with gifts from those who benefited, and in consequence he was regarded as a hero and a seer. Wheieas formerly he lived in poverty in a village of San Ferdinando, he has lately been presented with a palatial house. The Mayor is said to have won £lO,OOO through Torraca’s tips; many girls hdve won large dowries, and Torraca was besieged for tips for the latest lottery. It 'is estimated that 50,000 people crowded into San Ferdinando in the last few days to seek news. Such, is Torraca’s fame that the whole country is absorbed in gambling, and there is scarcely a household in Italy without a ticket for the latest lottery. Unfortunately this time Torraca was unsuccessful; he gave 33.48 instead of the wining number, 34.49. The subscribers ascribed the error to his being over-tired, and Torraca complained that he had no time to make elaborate calculations. The latest news is that he has disappeared, having fled in a motorcar from the village in order to escape the wrath of those who believed in his infallibility. It is estimated _ ~that a quarter of a million was lost in Naples alone, and half as much in Palermo. Never have the Italian people suffered so severely; -but the State gained enor-mously.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. 1 GREAT SUM POURED INTO STATE COFFERSRome, February 14. It is estimated that Torraca will be responsible for pouring into the coffers of the State a hundred million lire, sufficient to pay the annual charges on the debt to Britain and America. One office in Naples had to suspend operations owing to the density of the crowd. Faith in the prophet may wane, because to-day there is no report of any numbers given by him as being successful.—Reuter.