Attempt To Cash Forged Tote Tickets

Chronicle (Levin), 25 March 1949, Page 7

Attempt To Cash Forged Tote Tickets

Fress Association) . ,

(Per

AUCKLAND, March 24. A sequel to an attempt to cash forged totalisator tickets after the eigkth and final race of the Frankton Racing Club 's autumn meeting held on March 5 was heard before , justices of the pcace today when Heatli Ernest Inwood, aged 30, a carpenter, appeared charged with attempting to steaJ a sum of £51, the property of Blomfield and Company. Franeis Lindsay Adams, staif • manager for Blomfield and Conipany, said that after the final race four £1 win tickets for horse No. 16 (Kon Tiki) were given to him by the totalisator clerk. Accused was with th# clerk. Kon Tiki was first and paid a dividenii of £12 18s Od for a win. Witness questioned accused who said that he wa: caslung the tickets for a i'riend in town. The four tickets were those used by Blomfield and Company, but tlie;. llad ndt been Lssued by the company t'l'om the totalisator. Detective Eden said that while he was on duty at the races he was called to the totalisator. This was after tlu final race, and he spoke to accused wlio was then with the witness Adams. He then asked accused if he liad prc sented four tickets for horse No. 16 for payment at the totalisator, and hc said "yes. " Asked where he had goi the tickets, accused said he was give; them by a uiau^iu au hotel bat on the racec.ourse after the conclusion of llie last .race. "1 then asked accused who the nian was. coutinued witness, aiul he ->aid

''I kno'w him as Eddie Wells. ' When asked why he presented the tickets. accused said Wells asked him tu cash tlie ili as' lie was in a hurrv and wir going to Huntly by motor car. Accusei: paid out on the tickets wliich, lie said were worth £50, Asked the valne of tlw tickets accused said the.v were valued at £51 14s, but that Wells had toid him he could keep £1 14s for his trouble Accused told witness he niet Wells during the running of the last race. He did uot know where Wells was stayinj. in Huntly, where he lived or where hs vvorked. He said he had inet Wells ii. Auckland in 1040 in gambling schools, and had seen him once or twice since. Witness then asked accused where lie got'the £50 to pay Wells, and was toh1 he had- taken £45 to tlie races and had had some wins. Bubsequent efL'orts to trace Wells failed. "1 then told accused that tlie i'oui tickets be had presented " were forgeries," said witness. "1 asked him if he was responsible . for tliat, and lie said: '1 know nothing- abdut that.' 1 asked him if he knew the tickets were. forgeries, aud he said: 'No. ' " Accused then told the detective he had traveUed alone to Pukekohe on the train. lie was late'r brought to the detective ofiice, and when asked how he travelled from his home in Titirangi to the railway station said that he had come in his truck. Accused told witness tliai the Iruck was parked in Little Queen Htreet. "I took accused to Little t^ueeu Street to get his truck. but it was not there," witness continued. I ' ' He said that someone must liave ' shifted it." "Hoisted it! " interjected accused. Witness then took accused to the railway station where his truck was fouud. The truck was takou to tlie i police station and searclied. Witness j found 44 £1 totalisator tickets under. the front seat. These tickets were for a horse raced at a meeting held earlier in the year Asked where tLey hud come froiu, accused told witness they were left there by another mau and tliat he had nothing further to say. Accused, who pleaded uot guiltv, was coiiimittcd to the Huprenie Couri for triul. Bail was renevvcd.