A GREAT JOCKEY IN THE WITNESS BOX.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9130, 11 August 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A GREAT JOCKEY IN THE WITNESS BOX.

The action brought by Wood, the jockey, against the Licensed Victuallers Gazette for libel was heard by Lord Coleridge. When Wood was in the box he was subjected to a rigorous cross-examination by Sir Charles Russell, who elicited the worldly position of Wood, whose answers were of a startling' character. His Weatherby or regulation fees for riding amounted to £1900 a year, and retainers, refreshers, and gifts from owners brought up his income from riding up to about £4000 a year. Ho had also an income from betting. The most money lie had ever had on a race was £100. If he betted on a real good thing, he would like to ride it himself. He also bought and sold horses. "We want to know what your income is," said Sir Charles Russell. " Oh, make it £5000—£5000 or £0000," answered the witness in an off-hand way. He lived at Now market, and rented a house at Brighton. He had a brougham and a pony carriage, and ponies for his children. It is suggested," Sir Charles playfully observed, " that you have also got a perambulator." He, however, had no coachman or groom ; he had " only a boy who cleaned boots and things of that kind." He had "about two" hunters, which he turned away in summer; he had hunted for several years with the harriers at Brighton. He owned the house in which lie lived in Highstreet, Newmarket, also Lowther House, the Greyhound Hotel, the Black Horse Hotel, Chetwynd House, two or three cottages in St. Mary's Square, and some cottages in Black Boar Lane at the same place. He was also the owner of Sherr-ird's stable, which could accommodate fifty horses, Sherrard paying him £500 a year rent, and lie owned likewise a stable and thirty-five acres of land at Cheveley, near the Duke of Rutland's place. He had £4000 invested in the business of Messrs. Campbell and Co., coopers, Limehouse, and his banker had bought £ 1*2,000 in consols for him. This completely disclosed his linanciul position.