THEFT FROM THE "TOTE."

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1735, 5 September 1919, Page 11

THEFT FROM THE "TOTE."

INCIDENT AT ADDINGTON. YOUNG MAN PLEADS GUILTY. After several remands, the charges against Joseph Terence Maher of staling a sum of £2O from the totalisator at the Addington Racecourse on August 15, 1919, and of stealing £3 from William Watt, at the same place and on the same date, were dealt with at the Magis* trate's Court this afternoon. Messrs F. H. Christian and W. H. Norton, JJP.'s, were on the bench.

Mr P. P. J. Amodeo appeared for the accused, and Chief-Detective Mcllveney conducted the case for the police. The charge of theft from the totalisator was taken first. Gustav Ernest Simon said that on the day in question he was employed in the totalisator. Whilst paying out on the seventh race, at a window in the outside enclosure, a hand suddenly shot through the window and' clutched a bundle of 20 £1 notes. Witness grabbed the arm, but was unable to hold it. He instantly gave the alarm, and called out "Stop him!" He saw a man running away from the window. The man fell when he got to the end of the race leading to the window. He could not identify the .accused aB the man. , ,

Detective Abbott said he was in the totalisator when the dividends on the seventh race were being paid out. He was stan'ding a few feet from the last witness when suddenly he saw a hand and arm shoot through the window and grab the bundle of notes. Witness at once stepped to the window and was just in time to see the accused fall. He had a good view of accused as he fell. In , company with Acting-Detective Bickerdike, witness left the totalisator. They chased accused in the direction of the. Show Grounds. After the capture of accused, the missing notes were found, concealed in some brushwood in a stall on the Show Grounds. Accused denied all knowledge of the money. Accused made no reply when charged with being the man who had snatched the money from the totalisator. Acting-Detective Bickerdike "said he saw accused get over the fence into the Show Grounds, Witnessed followed and caught Maker near a shed on the grounds. Witness asked where the money was. To this accused replied he had not been on the racecourse. When charged with the offence accused replied: "I am a fool. I have been drinking. I know nothing about it." The stall where the notes- were found was close to where accused jrftas arrested. This closed the case for the prosecution. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

~ The charge of'the theft of the £3 was then taken. William Watt said he had attended the trots at Addington on August 15. He collected a dividend and as he was coming from the .window with three one-pound notes in his hand accused suddenly grabbed the notes. Witness caught accused by the arm and told him not to play any tricks. threatened to hand Maher over to the police. He took accused from the totalisator with the''object of handing him over to the police, but did not do so as accused returned the notes. However, he told Maher he would put the police on to him. Later witness saw Maher going up to a pay-out window, and he pointed him out to a constable. He also recognised Maher outside the courthouse on August 22 last. Constable Miller said accused had been pointed out to him by Watt at the Addington racecourse during the afternoon of August 15. Acting Detective Biokerdike said Watt had pointed out accused to him outside the courthouse, on August 22. He subsequently charged accused with the theft. Maher replied that he knew nothing abolt the -matter.* This closed the case for the prosecution. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Accused was granted bail in £IOO. igjth one surety of £IOO.