SOMEBODY BLUNDERED.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 144, 10 August 1911, Page 8

SOMEBODY BLUNDERED.

o At the Magistrate’s Court at Ranginra a few days ago, Mr Van Asch informed Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., that interesting developments were expected in the case of the Railway Department versus his ’ client, fohn Lucy, who was convicted of tra -M ling on the train from Christchurch to Rangiora without a proper tmket, and served a sentence of seven days’ imprisonment rather than pay The line inflicted. He thought there v. as evidence now available that would prove conclusively that another person purchased the ticket alleged to have been purchased by Lucy, and that that- person inadvertently handed the wrong half of it to the guard, who in error taxed Lucy with having done so. The man who was sitting next to Lucy in the train when he handed over his ticket retained the other bail, intending to travel back to . fJnvstchurch, but did not do -o. After the court case lie was turning out his pocket and found the unused half of the ticket, and then discovered that it was the half entitling him to travel from Christchurch to Rangiora he had retained, and that it bore the number that was reported in the newspapers to have been the rum her of the'ticket Lucy had used. There was other evidence to add to this which Mr Van Ascii said would clearly establish Lucy’s innocence. Ho had submitted the whole of the facts to the Minister of Railways with a request for an enquiry by the magistrate, and if Lucy was proved innocent that suitable compensation should be made to him.