PARTED WITH £500

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 74, 9 March 1933, Page 8

PARTED WITH £500

STORY OF A HUGE WAGER FARMER LAMENTING. SEQUEL TO FINDING OF WALLET. Auckland, March 8. The finding of a wallet under the table of a Queen street restaurint, and the returning of it to its owner, were the first steps taken ky • retired farmer residing in Auckland in negotiations in which he paid over £5OO. To-day the police are seeking an explanation of two men with whom the farmer alleges he had dealings.

The story told by the fanner is that he was accosted in a street by a man. They talked about Canada, and the imfression the farmer gained was that is new acquaintance was from that oountry. An appointment was made to meet next day, and while they were sitting in a Queen street restaurant the fanner’s acquaintance stooped and picked <ip a wallet which was lying uo the floor. The wallet contained numerous papers with the name of a man •ad gave his address at an hotel. Both the farmer and his acquaintance decided to return the wallet, and they went to the hotel, where they met the owner of the wallet, who was profuse in his thanks for its return. In conversation he told the farmer •nd his acquaintance that he had come from Australia and was acting for an Australian Turf syndicate. After much talk it was agreed that the owner of the wallet should back a horse to win £10.000; the name of the horse was to be known only to him. Later the fanner was informed that the horse had won, and that the sum of £lO,OOO was to be collected. Before the winnings could be collected, however, the two men told the farmer that ■ll three would have to find security for the money betted. The farmer alleges that he paid over •ome £5OO to one of the men. who promised to meet him again later. The farmer says he has not seen either man since.