TOTE TICKETS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 11 May 1921, Page 5

TOTE TICKETS

ALLEGED FORGERIES

VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY

(BY TELEGRAPH PRKBP AHROCITATIOJ*.» WELLINGTON, May 10.

Some unusual circumstances were related at the Supreme Court to-day in connect.on with a case in which Robert Fox was charged with forging totalizator tickets and altering; them at Trentham.

The pay-out clerk at the machine sa:d three tickets presented were not in order; they had their numbers obliterated and fresh nujnbers inserted. The dividend totalled £80. The alteration or forgery would appear to have been made with type. The clerk said he a^ked the "man to wait and closed the window, but when he went back to the window the man had disappeared. He could not describe him.

Another totalisator employee eaid that when the tickets were held up he sent for a detective. He went to the window to identify men who were there but did not see accused. Three days after the meeting; five and a half tickets were still unpaid. He saw a man named O'Brien at the window.

O'Brien, a builder and contractor, said, accused was in front of him. at " the machine. While the pay clerk was scrutinising the ticket the man was very nervous, and as soon as the clerk said "Wait a minute," the man turned towards witness and then bolted towards the station. Witness watched him out of sight. Witness collected his dividend. At the station he again saw acteused and pointed him out to his wife. Later-he saw him on a railway carriage. He saw him again at the Christchurch Easter meeting, and pointed him out to a racecourse detective. He knew it was solely on his evidence that the charge was brought against accused. Counsel: Did a policeman put it to you that you were the man? Witness: Yes, he d'd. Were you in possession of thote t;ckets when you knew the police were searching; for the man ?—Yes. You knew there were police at the station at Trentham, at Petone, and at Lambton, and yet you say accused was in the'carriage with you'all the time? —Yes.

Witness said he was perfectly candid with, the police and gave his name, address, and all particulars about him--eelf Witness' wife identified accused as the man in the carriage coming from Trentham, and at the Riccarton Easter meeting. Witness had no rubber stamps m his bag at Trentham. Counsel: Has your house been searched ?—No.

Chief-Detective Mellveney gave evidence of Having had a conversation with accused, who made a statement Accused said he had backed the winner ot the race m auest'on and he went to the machine and was paid the dividend, after which he proceeded to the tram. He saw O'Brien at the timber yard, where he (accused) was employed He said that at Christchurch a detective suggested he should tell the Justees that someone gave him the tickets and everything woufd be all right Counsel: Who was the man?—A little man with a cap. He thought he was in charge.of the detective office. . h O'Brien telling the truth —No • he is a liar.

Do you think he forged the tickets?— ■Qu'te likely. Evidence was given by.accused's employer that he was an hone?t younoman. % J" u" o The jury reWned a verdict of no* .guilty.