LOST TICKETS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 120, 24 May 1939, Page 5

LOST TICKETS

WINNING HORSE

POLICE COURT SEQUEL

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

PALMERSTON N., This Day

The loss of two £5 totalisator tickets during the Easter races at Feilding, and the presentation of two tickets for collection of the dividend, had a sequel in the Feilding Police Court yesterday when Sydney Herbert Hume, of Palmerston North, was charged with attempting to steal £65 ss, the property of Archibald McCorkindale, 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 £5 tickets on Lucullus Boy, which won the last race, was reported to the secretary of the club. The accused had attended the races with1 his...wife and child, and the child had been occupied a good part of the day in picking up discarded totalisator tickets. When the accused and his wife returned home they went through the tickets and discovered two £5 tickets.

SECRETARY RETAINS TICKETS. On the following day, added Mr. Meiklejohn, the accused presented the tickets to the secretary of the club and claimed the dividend, stating that he had purchased the tickets, but, having a catch a train, had failed to collect the dividend. The secretary retained the tickets and told the accused that the loss of two £5 tickets had been reported and inquiries would have to be made. The police had made full inquiries and had decided to prosecute.

Archibald McCorkindale, 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.

Edmund Guy Goodbehere, secretary of the Feilding Jockey Club; recalled receiving a complaint from McCorkindale as to the loss of tickets. He said there was a credit of £152 15s 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 toljj the accused that a claim had been lodged for two £5 tickets which had been lost. The 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 immediately. BELATED CLAIMS. To Mr. Relling, counsel for the 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 McCorkindale. The investments on the last race totalled £4832. Sometimes claims in regard to lost tickets were made as late as 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. I The accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being allowed in his own recognisance of £ 100.