Beating the Books

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 76, 9 March 1922, Page 6

Beating the Books

PEEL’S BETTING FRAUDS. WRONG TIMES ON TELEGRAMS. HUSBAND PLEADS GUILTY. London, March. 7. The trial has opened at the Old Bailey of Captain Owen and his wife. Peel pleaded guilty and his wife not guilty. Mr Justice Darling refused Peel bail, but released his wife on her own recognisances. The hearing’ was adjourned. The tripl produced a dramatic suprise. The husband’s plea of guilty astonished the great array of fashionable people present. The .wife firmly pleaded not guilty. Argument followed as to whether the wife could be tried, because it must be presumed she acted under her husband’s influence. Mr Justice Darling declared that the wife must be tried and adjourned the case until Thursday.— 11 The Times.” Captain Owen Peel, son-in-law of Sir Robert Jardine,"the well-known racehorse* owner, caused surprise last December by returning £3500, his winnings on one race, from bets made with more than 40 bookmakers. u It was subsequently stated that Captain Peel backed the winner of tile chief race at Kempton Park on October 8, by means of telegrams lodged at a village post office in the Midlands, apparently a few minutes before the race was started. The telegrams were sent to 40 bookmakers in various towns. The Intelligence Department of the Post Office investigated the despatch of these telegrams, and the bookmakers received a refund of the bets. Captain Peel later explained through the “Daily Mail” that, though 45 telegrams backing the winner were despatched at least a couple of minutes prior to the start of the race, he felt that his honour was implicated, and decided to repay lhe money in order to clear up any possible doubt.” x