YOUNG MAN’S £100

Cromwell Argus, Volume L, Issue 2646, 27 October 1919, Page 2

YOUNG MAN’S £IOO

STORY OF A BETTING BOOK

At Westminster Police Court on August 17, before Mr Francis, Edgar Frank Douglas Smith alias Smyth (52), describing himself as an American jockey, was charged on remand with alleged fraud on Mrs Vera Cubitt, a young widow, of Abingdon Court, Kensington.

-Mr C. Vaughan Williams, prosecuting, said that there was a further charge against the prisoner of ’ defrauding Mr Janies Oswald Hartley, of Carshalton. Hartley said that in the winter months he rode in steeplechases. He made the acquaintance of Smith in the early months of the present year at Carshalton through a jobmaster from whom Smith hired horses. About three months ago the prisoner said that he was bringing horses to be trained on the downs at Carshalton, and he wanted a manager at a salary of £5 a week and 10 per cent, of anv winnings and a “ corner ” —meaning a fourth on horses bought or sold on comm siom He accepted this offer. One day liie witness told the prisoner that he luid about £IOO coming to him from his mother, and the prisoner advised him to put the money on “a good thing.” Two or three days later Smith returned to Carshalton, and stated that a friend of his ran a betting book among music hall people, and that Air George Robey and others were clients. He stated also that he had made arrangements for the witness to have a third share of the winnings on the book on payment of £7O. with liberty to have his money back if he wanted it. He let the prisoner have the money. He was to draw the first winnings on the Monday after Derby week. On that Monday he saw the prisoner, and asked about Ins winnings. He said : “ I’m awfuly sorry, old chappie, but the book has lost £7OO over the Derby. All the clients backed Grand Parade.” (Laughter.) - °

Mr Francis: All the stage was on that. (Laughter.) Tho Witness: “Yes. sir."’ He also said that no doubt the hook would pick up on the Ascot week. Mr Hartley added that he waited several Mondays, but got nothing. J'he prisoner, who reserved his defence, was committed for trial at the sessions, bail being allowed in two sureties of £2OO each.