FORGED "TOTE" TICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1919, Page 6

FORGED "TOTE" TICKET.

SMART WORK BY A CLERK. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Nov. ■5. In the Supreme Court John Lynch, it stonemason, was charged with having forged a totalisator ticket at the Metropolitan trotting meeting on August 15th, entitling the holder of the ticket to a double figure dividend on Dillon Direct, the winner of the Federal Handicap; also with having attempted to induce a totalisator clerk to act on it as if it were genuine, and in the alternative with having used the ticket knowing it to be a false document. Evidence for the Crown showed that the ticket, was a clever forgery. It was suspected by the pay-out clerk who closed the window in order to examine it. The accused went away, hut later returned to the totalisator house and demanded payment. The accused, giving evidence on his own behalf, said he chummed up with a soldier on tlio course and they betted together all the afternoon. The ticket was given him by his friend to collect and he had no idea that it was not genuine. His Honor, summing up, said it must be remembered there were some very smart people to be found on racecourses and accused might have been made a catspaw. The jury, after a brief retirement, returned a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoner was discharged.