BOOKMAKERS VICTIMISED.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXVI, Issue 71, 28 March 1892, Page 3

BOOKMAKERS VICTIMISED.

Dnring the past flat-raoing* season oxten(dve and ingenious frauds hnvo been practised npon bookmakers all over the country hy a gang led by a man of considerable means having a hanking account with n (jabstantial amount on deposit, and a lnrgo sum to. his credit on hiß drawing account, In spite of all attempts to hush these matters *ap some valuable information, givea by Mr 0, E, Robinson, tbo judge of the Newmarket races, and tho aotion of tho Treasury, ronulted in the arrest and conviotion of a man named Andrew Olark, alius "Swell Harry," alias " The Squire," who, at the Huntingdon Quarter Sewicne, wrs sentenced to four month*' hard labour. '' Squire Clark's" London addresa wns No. — , Mecklenburg Bquare, whero he resided In a well-furnished house, und ifc was from this house tbat tho frauds wero worked. Whilst visiting the different raoing centrea the gang would carefully inquire the names of bookmakers of menus, and their method Of doing business, seleoting as their victims i those who bod their letters addressed to post offices. Wifch comparative ease they would obtain letters of intrcduotion to the hookmaker, and those they would forward to the " Squire" in town, who would at once place himself in communication, onolosing with the letter of introduction £t> or £10 for a bet. After losing perhaps jell) or £50, the " Squire would aßk the bookmaker to open a running account with him and appoint a settling day. To show that he was not a man of straw ho would refer the bookmaker fco his bankere, who, not knowing their client's business, would, of courac, *Uto that he was worth, Bay, £1000. Ono of the gang would bo sent to a raco mettiug having directions to send to various post offices about the couutry telegrams addressed to other members of the gang giving tho winners of a certain raco. Tho night prior to the raoe lottora would ba posted to the different post ofliccs, bub instead of addressing tbem to the bookmakers with whom they wore doing business —say, as "Mr T. Parker, p.o. Epsom "—ihe envelope would be addreesed " Mr T. Pur, P. 0., Epsom." On the morning of tho race eaoh member would be told oif to a post ollico to awai* the receipt ot the telegrams, nnd on ascertaining tho winner of the raco would announce himself as "Mr T, Par." Ho would thas obtain tbo letter previously addressed fco "Mr T. Por," and lay his money on the horee he already knew to .have won. Then the envelop* would be sealed, " Par " uwre&Bed to "Parker," and tho deed was done. . , The "Bquire," however, got wind "lhat the gamo was op," aucTfor some timo letters sent fco M«ofcl6nbuig Square were returned "Gone avray," A warrant was issued in duly, and the matter was plaoed in the h&uiU of Deteotive eergeant Nieholls and Detective Mellsrs, but it was not until suly in Deoember that Nioholis got a oke to tho whereabouts of the "Squire." A couutry gentleman somewhat Ihe wor so for dxink met some strangors at the St James' Restaurant, and was induced by them to visit a gambling den in fche Strand, After losing *U tha money ha had with him, ho gavo bb I 0 TJ for tho balance he had lost-, tad then left, the Olub, A Milo later he

found himself at Hunter-street Police Station, charged wifch being drunk. Tha tak ho told of tho visit to the gambling den reaohed tho cars of Nioholla, who obtained from him the desoription of the men he waa playing with. Nioholiß afc once recognised tho major-domo of fche party to be tho " Squire," and thafc evening a telegram was sent to him at an address he gave, informing him thafc if he would bo at a certain hotel in London tho gentleman would redeem tho IO U, whioh was for £25, Two hours later tho "Squire ' dashed up in a hansom cab, and the bitor was bit afc last. Tho arrest of Olark foou became known, and the different members of tho gaug at onco interviewed their victim?, to whom they paid largo sums to provent them coming to tho front and giving ovidonce.

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