BRIBE TO FOOTBALLER

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 April 1932, Page 2

BRIBE TO FOOTBALLER

EX-CAPTAIN SENTENCED. LONDON, February 24. Gavin Hamilton, a former captain of the Montrose Football Club, was sent to prison for sixty days at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday for a contravention of the Corruption Act. He was found guilty of attempting to bribe David Mooney, the left back to lose the match against Edinburgh City on December 5 last. The full charge was: “Having on December 4 last offered a gift of from £4O to £5O to David Mooney, left-back, of Montrose, as an inducement or reward to him to forbear to exercise his skill as a player in the game against Edinburgh City at Montrose on December 5 ” Mooney told the Court that-Hamil-ton visited him at his father’s house in Rutherglen. Accused asked him to ‘lie down,” and said that it would be worth £4O to £5O to him. Hamilton added that he was working with a bookmaker. It was suggested that if goals did not come quick enough for Edinburgh City a penalty should be given away.

. lhe conversation, which took place ia a bedroom, was overheard by Adam Mooney, a younger brother. Later the brothers told their father what had happened.

Hamilton denied having made such an offer, but admitted that he had a bet on Edinburgh City to win. Sheriff Welsh said the evidence showed that the very foundations of sport were being struck at. When Hamilton was leaving the dock he shook hands with David and Adam Mooney and their father.