A TOTE TAKE-DOWN.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3429, 8 March 1920, Page 6

A TOTE TAKE-DOWN.

Says the Wanganui Herald:-The races invariably produce. from outside places a good crop of those who “toil not, neither do they spin_.’A’ and for cunning and chicanery they are per‘fect champions. Apart from the successful eireulation of forged notes, they seem to be able to take unsuspecting men down very easily and lquickly. An instance of the re.<ource I fulness of one of these gentry was displayed on Szy‘turday last. When a very large dividend was being paid, a locai -resident was‘ just. Upproaehing the Window for his “little bit” when he was accosted at. the side of the barrier by a. decent looking man, who‘ said: “I say, get mine, too! ” As an apparent. bona fides of his request he passed over his ticket, and, without looking at it, the “divvy” receiver in turn handed it in, with his own, to the payee. The latter immediately questioned the right to pay out on the ‘ stra.nger’s ticket, and said the one presented was not entitled to a dividend The local resident inieindieitely tore it up, and after receiving his own re—ward he passed out of the queue. In a few moments he was again accbsted ’ by the “stumer” and was asked if he had got the money. He explained '

what had happened at the window whereupon the visitor became appar ently indignant, and called -two other ——who no doubtbelonlgcd to the Saint gang of thieves-——and asked then about the ticket. They confirmed tlu story that the ticket given was 0. gen uine one, and ‘thaeatened-Ltliq‘ flocai man. Aslhc‘ later had torn up ané thrown away the “fake,” and being one of the practical kind, he simply paid over his own dividend. He is now kicking himself that he was not more careful in preserving the ticket and liandling the adventurer over to the police. The incident, however, should act as :1 warning to others not to act as a proxy for any one else.