"It is mine. It was taken from me by—"
"Just answer the question, please," I admonished him. He knew his script, but he was jumping the gun. "The device is yours, then?"
"That's right."
"Under what circumstances did this device come into the hands of the police?"
He told what had happened on the night of the big take at the Golden Casino.
"Would you explain to us just what this device is?" I asked when he had finished.
"Certainly," he said. "It's a good luck charm."
I could hear the muffled reaction in the courtroom.
"A good luck charm. I see. Then it has no effect on the wheel at all?"
"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Howley said disarmingly. He smiled and looked at the jury. "It certainly has some effect. It's the only good luck charm I ever had that worked."