SUED BY BOOKIES

Evening Star, Issue 19272, 10 June 1926, Page 10

SUED BY BOOKIES

ARMY OFFICER’S BETTING

SYNDICATE,

To the women members of a jury in tho King's Bench Division counsel had lo explain the difference between betting on the racecourse and betting with the starting-price bookmakers in an action in which a city firm of bookmakers claimed damages from an Army officer, Major Enor, lor alleged fraud and misrepresentation. it appeared that the major, after he started business with,the plaintiffs, won £705 in four weeks, but lost £447 in the following week, and of this sum he had not paid a. penny. The major explained, through his solicitors, that he was a member of -r syndicate of which ono member guaranteed to pay tho losses on condition that he received all the winnings, less 10 per cent. This member failed to meet the loss, alleging the non-return of a loan. Counsel for the defence said that the major had many years of honorable service, and had never been in default for a penny except for the unfortunate relationship into which he had entered in this case. This was the,result of his rending an advertisement in a newspaper appealing to people of social standing to embark on a capital profitmaking scheme. After replying to the, advertisement, ho went to an office in Charing Cross road, the furniture in which so inspired him with confidence that ho immediately advanced the money after the occupier had explained that he was acting for n number of owners and trainers who did not, wish to bet in their own names.

Tito jury disagreed, and were discharged.