HUTCHENS-GENT SWINDLE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 45, 24 September 1887, Page 2

HUTCHENS-GENT SWINDLE.

WILDEST EXCITEMENT. ENRAGED MOB BREAK EVERYTHING ON THE .GROUND. POLICE POWERLESS, London, September 23. Further particulars of the rioting that took place at Lilliebridge over the Hutchens-Gent affair show that these well-known sprinters had decided to run 120 yards for £2OO a-side and the championship of the world. Gent and Hutchens after showing themselves on the track retired. It speedily became known that the race had been declared off, Gent having forfeited the stakes to save his backers. The crowd on hearing this demanded back the money they had paid for admission and the persons who had control of the ground having refused to do so a scene of the wildest excitement ensued, a sight unparralleled in the history of disturbances in England. The greater number of the bookmakers took advantage of the disturbance and bolted without settling. The mob being refused their admission money back and finding that the bookmakers had bolted with all the money that had been wagered with them, got wild with excitement and rage. They commenced to break up all the out buildings, after destroying these, they turned to the two grandstands and before many minutes passed they had wrecked both, they then attacked the dancing hall and speedily demolished it. The rage of the mob seemed satisfied and they were starting to disperse when some person cried out to finish the work properly and burn the remains. This suggestion rendered the mob furious again, and turning back they made an immense bonfire formed of the debris of the demoliihed buildings. It was hot work and anu nber of the leaders demanded free liquor from the saloon proprietors, and upon it being refused them, they looted the saloons. Mad with drink and excitement they made an attempt to burn down the Brompton railway station but were frustrated by a party of police from London. A fresh detachment of police having arrived, a charge was made upon the mob and after a slight resistance the crowd dispersed. Many persons were injured during the course of the riots, and one man dropped dead from excitement.