CHANGE OF LUCK

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 887, 3 February 1930, Page 1

CHANGE OF LUCK

GOOD FORTUNE FOLLOWED BY FINE THEFT AT TAKAPUNA The luck of Madhu Kara has changed. According to Sub-Inspector McCarthy, at the Police Court this morning, he has been famous as the only man with a ticket on a horse that paid a phenomenal dividend. He was fined £3 for theft this morning. Kara, a diminutive and snowyheaded Indian, described as a hawker, aged 55, was charged with stealing a coat and shoes valued at 265. Through an interpreter, he pleaded not guilty. “Can’t you speak English?” the subinspector asked him. Accused shook his head. “That’s queer, he talked to me all right this morning,” commented the sub-inspector. The owner of the property identified the coat and shoes which she had left in a shelter on the Takapuna racecourse on Saturday. According to Ernest Hoptroff, a ticket collector at the course gates, he had grabbed Kara as someone behind had called “Stop that man.” Accused had the coat over his arm and dropped the shoes, which were parcelled up. The Indian had been very argumentative and talked very fast to witness in Indian. Through the interpreter, Kara said he was the holder of a licence to hawk fruit in Northcote and Birkenhead. “I never had the coat; I never had the parcel, so how could I drop it?” he asked. “I’m afraid that won’t do,” commented Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M. “Is anything known about the man?” “He is known in Auckland on account of his good fortune,” replied the sub-inspector. “He was the only man in the city to have a ticket on a horse that paid a phenomenal price recently. Up to now he has been known as the luckiest man in Auckland."’ “There were no big dividends on Saturday so he thought he would take the coat instead.” suggested the magistrate. “It is his first appearance, so I won’t send him to gaol.” Kara was fined £3 tfid witnesses’ expenses £l, in default" 14 days’ im- : prisonment.