PARTED WITH £500

Taranaki Daily News, 10 March 1933, Page 7

PARTED WITH £500

STORY OF A HUGE WAGER. FARMER LEFT LAMENTING. Auckland, March 8. The finding of a wallet under the table of a Queen Street restaurant, and the returning of it to its owner, were the first steps taken by .a retired farmer residing in Auckland in negotiations in which he , paid over £5OO. To-day the police are seeking an explanation of two men with whom the farmer alleges he had dealings. The story told by the farmer is that he was accosted in a street by a man. They talked about Canada, and the impression the farmer gained was that his new acquaintance was from that country. An appointment was made to meet next day, and while they were sitting in a Queen Street restaurant the farmer’s acquaintance stooped and picked up a wallet which was lying on the floor. The wallet contained numerous papers with the name of a man and gave his address at an hotel.

Both the farmer and his acquaintance decided to return the wallet, and they went to the hotel, where they met the owner of the wallet, who was profuse in his thanks for its return. In conversation he told the farmer and his acquaintance that he had come from Australia and was acting for an Australian Turf syndicate. After much talk it was agreed that the owner of the wallet should back a horse to win £10,000; the name of the horse was to be known only to him. Later the farmer was informed that the horse had won, and that the sum of £lO,OOO was to be collected. Before the winnings could be collected, however, the two men told the farmer that all three would have to find security for the money betted. The farmer alleges that he paid over some £5OO to one of the men, who promised to meet him again later. The farmer says he has not seen either man since.