CHAMPION SCULLER'S LOSSES

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 55, 7 March 1922, Page 7

CHAMPION SCULLER'S LOSSES

ERNEST. BARRY ON POPULARITY

A BREWERY OLAIM.

(FROM OBR OWN COMUWONBENT.)

LONDON, 20th. .January. Mr. Ernest Barry, the world's ' exchampion' sculler, appeared at Brentford Bankruptcy Court this week to explain tho financial misfortunes which resulted 1 in his -liabilities being £1730, and his assets only £28 3s. He attributed his failure to loss on a public houso and unsuccessful bolting transactions.

Replying to Mr. Ashton, for the Official Receiver, Mr. Barry-said ho took up professional sculling in 1908, and .in 1912 won the world's championship. Ho served' in tho .army, and in 1919 lost the championship to Felton, the Australian, losing £600 over that race. He then took the Fox public house &t Twickenham, but from the first it never paid, and he only kept 'it going by his successes in horseracing. . ■ . ' Mr. Ashton: "But you were a popular character, and that should have attracted customers?" ,\ l Mr. Barry: "Popularity' does not last "long." •■..■■ In 1920, Mr. Barry proceeded, in answer to further questions, he went * to Australia, his expenses being paid, and he bout Felton, making £1000 on . the trip, but on returning to this country he-found things at tho Fox very unsatisfactory, a bill of £1200 having been run up by tho brewery company. "I could never understand how that happened," he added. ' . , ■ • Mr.. Ashton: "But there must have been a big turnover?" \ Mr. Burry: "You must take it you must live very frugally, to make a publio house pay." ,1 ■ , Giving an account of his betting transactions, ho said.ho was induced by^his brother and another man to join in a betting business in L/ondon in his own;name, which, it was thought, would.be an attraction '■■ to ■ patrons." The. business, 'however, soon failed, and big debts were run up. He bolievod v tho others used to take money against horses and'back them with other firms. He never -got a penny's advantage out of it. ; His _' partners had powor to sign cheques in his name. . Mr. Ashton: "You were held.in considerable respect, and your name associated with the business led people to do business with you?/ It was not creditable." .. ' N Mr, Barry: "I suppose you are right, but I trusted my brother., implicitly.'"

MrAßarry said ha lost a lot of money on. horse-racing. He sometimes took as much as £500 >in his pocket to a racecourse.

Mr. Ashton : "That was vory dangerous, was itrnot?" .' . • .

Mr. Barry: "I should bo the last man on earth they would touch." ,

Having' stated that, ho had sold war loan stock for £950, Mr: Barry said he had repaid borrowed money and debts. Mr. Ashton: "Why did you not pay the brewory first?" r

..Mr. Barry : "Because I paid" my debts to my friend*. It was a matter of honour to me." , .

This concluded th« proceeding*