WHAT LUCK!

Taranaki Daily News, 12 March 1920, Page 6

WHAT LUCK!

RACECOURSE INCIDENT AND ITS SEQUEL. . The ethics of some racecourse patrons was brought to light in the Magistrate's Court at New Plymouth yesterday, when Archie Fox was charged with the theft of £1 from Ernest F. Newman. Sub-Inspector Hutton,, who prosecuted, said the incident occurred at the New Plymouth racecourse on the second day oi the February meeting. Newman dropped a £1 note and a bystander named Somerton saw the note dropped and saw. Fox pick it up. Newman and Somerton went in search of Fox and when he was found he admitted picking up a note, but asked how he could know

that Newman had lost one. He said that it was put on a horse in the last race of the day and if it won Newman could get his money back, but if not It was gone. The horse did not win and complainant had not received his note back. Evidence was given by Newman and Somerton, the latter stating that when the note was dropped Fox snatched it up and "ducked away" into the crowd. Constable Wroblenski, in deposing to an interview with Fox on tne matter, said he admitted picking up the note, his own words being "Gawd, blimey, what luck!" Counsel for defendant submitted that his client had not any means of knowing who was the owner < f the note which he picked up, and cited authorities to show that in such circumstances he should not have been charged with theft. He held £1 for his client who was prepared to pay it to Newman if he was proved to have lost a note. The Magistrate said if Fox l had beer, an honorable man ho would have returned the money to the man who claimed it. He admitted the difficulty of identifying money found and proving ownership. He issued a warning to people finding anything in public or semi-public places, and dismissed the information against Fox.