A PROFESSIONAL PED.

NZ Truth, Issue 66, 22 September 1906, Page 5

A PROFESSIONAL PED.

WHO TAPPED TAIHAPEITES,

Hourigan, the Dark Horse.

Some Dirty Disclosures.

Some months ago New Zealand* which should not be a Mecca' for crooks m any line of sport, was honored with a visit from a professional „,. New South Wales sprinter, named Hourigan, who, from all accounts, had a fairly good innings m this colony. Of course, it is after he .'hasleft these shores, and taken some N.Z. coin away with him, that ih.ej little dicky birds begin to chirp, and ]-. when Dicky chirps he is not far 'oif the mark. The dicky birds, as- far- as.; Hourigan is concerned, come from Taihape, and the other day, m a court case, the chirpings were very— sweet. It all happened m a -ecu' release when one Mary Maher sued William Patterson, for the recovery of £4 3s, which was. for board" and lodging, boot repairs, : and, murmur it ever so softly, nomination money, paid by her on account of the cind-ered-track artist. Hourigan, as McLachlan and othefci professional peds. m the colony know, is "hot stuff," and m his local fixtures he could not very well travel under an alias, as too many knowing ones were about. In country towns, however, Hourigan and the crowd with him were not so particular, and, as far as Taihape is concerned, worked the crooked game there for all it was worth. Anyhow, it -it certain Patterson brought Hourigan to Taihape, and kept him "a very dark horse," with the result: that the simple inhabitants, particularly those who take a deep interest m "pure"pedestrianism were ROOKED RIGHT AND LEFT-^f Hourigan was brought up to Taihape and was billeted oh Mrs Maher., She supplied him with board ahdiodging, paid for the boot repairs, and under, it is presumed, Patterson's instructions, she nominated' Hourigan. for the Mangaweka Handicap, m the name of T. Andrews. Subsequently, Hourigan, under the name of Rossiter, was entered for another event. What the "crooks" made out of their dark games did not, of course, come to light, but Hourigan was crook enough to clear off leaving Mrs Maher lamenting for her little bit. When Patterson got up to give his version of the affair he denied having made any arrangements with Mrs Maher about Hourigan's board and lodging; but he could not, and did not, deny the fact that Hourigan was entered m various events under different names, though he said that a man named Cook nominated the pro. ped. undejj the name of Rossiter. Patterson went on to say that he and Hourigan had been engaged by a man named Bowen, who had brought Hourigan from Sydney, for a trip on the West Coast. He ..(Patterson) therefore reckoned that Bowen was responsible for Hourigan's debt. The Magistrate, however, said he would hold Patterson responsible foi ' the money owed to Mrs Maker ami gave her a verdict with costs. Tht. Magistrate further said that he had no doubt m his mind that Patterson and Bowen were "working" Hourigan. - -.'.