STRANGE INCIDENT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 7 March 1929, Page 5

STRANGE INCIDENT

DEATH AT GAMING TABLE

WINNINGS ACCUMULATED.

CLAIM TO HONEY DISPUTED.

(Umtp.l Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) PARIS, March 6. An echo of an extraordinary tragedy at the gaming tables at Riviera will shortly be related in the law courts. An elegantly dressed man entered the Casino and .put a 1000 franc counter o,n a certain number, -which won. The gambler did not withdraw the winnings, blitre main ed with his head buried in his hands, motionless. Play continued and the same number won several times successively, the croupier each time adding the gambler's winnings till they reached £4OOO. As he was still motionless a woman touched the man in order to wake him, but found to 'her horror that she was addressing a corpse. Death was due to heart failure following a heavy meal. The game was stopped and the body was removed.

The widow is now claiming the winnings and the Casino is disputing the claim, arguing that if tho deceased played while he lived it is doubtful whether he. would have left his repeated winnings on the 1 same number.