TODHUNTER SLOAN

NZ Truth, Issue 559, 4 March 1916, Page 12

TODHUNTER SLOAN

WHY HE WAS DEPORTED FROM ENGLAND

AN UNDESIRABLE AMERICAN ALIEN

Not so great a Mystery after All

"Tod" Sloan, the ex- jockey, has "written" a book, the title of which is "Tod Sloan, by Himself ." When we say that "Tod" Sloan. has "written" a book, we mean that a book of the title named has been published and purports to be from the pen of the jockey m question. It was Byron who wrote: 'Tis pleasant, sure, to see one's name. in print; A book's a book, although there's ,> nothing m 't. Just as all that glitters is not gold, bo also, though the coveixSf. a book publishes the name of a person AS BEING THE AUTHOR, it does not naturally follow -i that that person is the author. "Such gents as Tommy Burns, Jack Johnson, Jim Jeffries, Jess Willard and others those who have earned name, fame, and boodle as "bruisers" or any other' branch of so-called sport, have written books, that is to say, books have been written and published, the authors of -which are individuals whose endeavor to legibly write and spell their own names costs a big effort of the mind. The real truth of the matter /is this, all over the world to-day there are men of genius, or at any rate of ability, who will write books on any conceivable subject, that is if they are supplied with the data or Information. These men are literary hacks, ready-to write of anybody or anything. : These individuals would like the limelight, but are timid and weak; and subsist by pandering to the vanity of "boodlebitten" athletes, jockeys, etc, etc, m short the vanity . OF ANT IGNORANT BUFFOON, who -wants to see his name m print, even if there is nothing m the book which they have ''written." As we set off by saying "Tod" Sloan has "written" one of these bookstand a well-written, interesting collection.of turf stories is the result These stories, reminiscences, or whatever they might be called, have been "lifted" by sporting or turf writers m all parts of the English-speaking world, because they are worth reprinting, but /it must not follow that this is any tribute to Sloan; it is more' a tribute to the unknown literary hack who wrote to order. '-,■' ■.. ; : . .' :■ : , 1■ V Unfortunately, Sloan's book \was written and published at a time when it was impossible for "Tod" to give to the world a bit of Information that all England and America want to know very badly indeed, and that is : : Why did the English authorities; or, m other words, the Home Office, give /"Tod" about half an hour's notice that he had better make tracks for America, was, m short, placed on an American-bound boat, and deported because he was an "undelsrable." Not only was "Tod" sent about his business to the land which has the honor of being the land of his birth, but a lady "chum," and her mamma, were similarly treated, inasmuch as they were packed oft to France. So strange, so reticent have been the English authorities on this matter that "Truth" is inclined to believe that the deportation of "Tod" Sloan, or, as an American paper says, Mr. James Todhunter Sloan, is one of the mysteries of London. The deportation of an American citizen has not caused President Wilson to "SEND AROUND A NOTE," butthe fact remains that a great deal of secrecy surrounds the deportation of the once fashionable jockey, and a note or two from President Wilson might have cleared the matter up, or involved the States m a bit of a barney with Britain. Now and then the brief message is handed out by the British Government that a man has been shot m the grim

old Tower of London. The name is never given. No details are given. It is only intimated that the death penalty has been inflicted on a person convicted by court-martial of an offence against the safety of the realmIt is argued that there could not have been very serious charges against Sloan and his companion.- During these war times any offence against the State Is very severely punished. Since Carl Hans Lody, the first spy executed m the Tower of London was tried the Government has been MUCH MORE SEVERE AND SECRET m the proceedings against spies or offenders of any kind against the publio safety. Some weeks ago it wad announced" by cable that Tod Sloan Bad been expelled from England, together with a woman, who is now described as a charming French actress known as "La Belle D'Herlys." Everybody m London wondered why Tod Sloan had been sent away, after his long career as the most successful jockey m the world, and his association with many prominent persons including the late King Edward, had made him a popular character m London, especially m theatrical and sportIng circles. , ■'. . What was it that was serious enough to cause his expulsion and not serious enough to lead to his being sent to the Tower of London? , ' ■ And what about the vivacioua Mile. d'Herlys? , What / did she do? Evi-

Here's to ye, then, Patrick Mlnogue, In Palmerston you are all the vogue. As a sleuth hound you'r<> fine, No matter what line, And the one man I pity Who lives m. the city, Is the bloke who's committed a crime.

dently Sloan and Mademoiselle were both concerned m the same offence — > whatever it was. When the British authorities decided that it was DANGEROUS TO THE REALM to allow Sloan to remain another day m England they made the saino decision about Mademoiselle; up the gangplank they both went — one to America, tho other to France. Inquiries as to just what they had been doing brought only evasivo answers from tho British Home Secretary who ordered their deportation. The Defence of the Realm Act permits tho Government $o dispose of a man's life and liberty without trial, and to do practically as It pleases with any British subject; and, of course, a foreigner has still loss rights. The Habeas Corpus Act and the BUI of Rights, those ancient bulwarks of British liberty, have ceased to have any meaning. Politicians havo complained bitterly that tho war has taken us back to Star Chamber daya. Indeed, tho deportation of Sloan and hla companions (because with "La Belle d'Herlya wont her mamma) caused much concern m tho minds of several members of tho House of Comraona, and Mr. Joseph King, member of tho House of Commons for North Somerset, asked tho thon Brltlah Homo Secretary, Sir John Simon, if ho could STATE THE EXACT REASON why Tod Sloan had been deported. To thia sir John Simon ropliodK "This man has been deported and boforo making tho doportatlon order I satisfied myself that it was not desirable m tho public interest at tho proaont time that lio should remain m the United Kingdom." Mr. King then aakod if "as a matter

of fact a criminal charge could not have been brought against him, and, if so, ought he not to have been tried m the brdinery wty?" The Home Secretary then replied: "The reasons for deporting' him were good reasons, and as he is an American citizen I do not see why we should be compelled to keep him m this country." Mr. King next asked the Home Secretary "if he was not aware that m these cases where persons of .eminence are deported it is generally assunied that it is to shield some other person | behind him?" Sir John informed his questioner "that "m this case, whatever the emin•erice of the person, it was not on that ground that he was deported rather fh«r> dealt with m some other way." The explanation has been published that Tod Sloan was expelled because a young British officer who insisted on playing cards with him lost a small sum of money, and that A. JEALOUS ENGLISHWOMAN then made a complaint to the police that the jockey was keeping a gambling place. . ' The late King Edward, whose chief 1 amusement was on the turf, took a great deal of interest m Tod Sloan. He usually visited him before he rode a race and asked his advice about the probable winner. Most of the King's meetings with the jockey occurred ! when he was still Prince of Wales. Sloan is generally considered to have been the most successful and highly paid jockey that ever rode. At one time he received £12,000 a year salary, m addition to his large winnings from bets and other sources. . He won five big races m one afternoon at Newmarket, the biggest race meeting m England. Of course, he won a fortune for his employer. Some of the most distinguished noblemen m England then hung about Tod Sloan, waiting for a golden word from his lips. * It might also be interesting to learn that "Tod" has had his domestic troubles. Julia Sanderson, his American wife, described ■, . AS "A PRETTY ACTRESS," divorced him, because of the attentions paid by him to other women. After that "Tod" was warned off the turf, m fact, lit can be claimed for Mr. James Todhunter Sloan that he was a pretty bad lot In England, not having been given time to explain why he, '"Tod" Sloan, the famous and fashionable rider of gee-gees, was unceremoniously bundled out of the country, we have to go to that great neutral country, America, to get the news. In New York, Mr. James Todhunter Sloan, the "jock" from whom a mighty monarch had got tips, ventured to assert that: This Is a great day In England for people who are jealous or have grudges. All that is necessary is to notify the authorities of your "suspicions" and then they can be depended upon to do the rest. They look on a man as guilty until he proves .himself Innocent — and ' then they won't give him a chance to prove himself innocent. You can figure for yourself the results. It's, I imagine, as it was m France during • THE REIGN OF TERROR, when the ."J'accuse" first became popular. Of course, there isn't any particular reason why a jockey of the "Tod" Sloan sort should not imagine that it's the same m England to-day as it was m France during the Reign of Terror, but James Todhunter Sloan's opinion of La Belle d'Herlys is some opinion because "Tod" says she Is one "of the finest, best and most beautiful women m the world. She was my comrade, my dear friend. Nothing more." "Only that and nothing more," quoth the Raven, 'Nevermore.' " "Tod" goes on to describe how when one day m Paris, a friend told him that the loveliest girl m France was playing at the Folles Marigny, the ex- jock and "author" wanted to meet her, that was providing she was all that was claimed for her. But, then, La Belle was so modest, so virtuous and innocent m all her loveliness, that she met nobody. "Tod" bet two hundred "quid" that he would meet "La Belle," and that La Belle would meet him".' Anyhow, she met "Tod." The next evening/chaperoned by her mother, they supped at the Cafe de Paris. Next, according to "Tod," "a firm friendship' was then formed among her mother, Mademoiselle d'Herlys and myself. She became interested In my Btories of jockey life. I suppose it was Othello brought down to date. Doubtless La Belle d'Herlys would have said, 'I liked him for his adventures on the track.' , Anyway, next day my friend paid the two hundred. She was, a SWEET-NATURED, CHILDLIKE ' GIRL. She had been born m the south of France. She was well educated. Her home life was the typical French family kind. At seventeen she had gon* on the stage. She had danced and done plastic poses and become the rage. But she had with her mother lived the life of aT recluse In Paris. Of course, there were suitors. Men of wealth and tltlo had wanted to pay court to her. But her friendship went to her American comrade. I was a very lucky fellow. That was m July. 1914. We have been good friends and comrades ever since. Just comrades — that's all." In other words, she stuck llko gluo to her "whipper-snappor" of a jockater, and they became "good friends and comrades." Next Jm Bollu'h beauty, fame, etc., reached London. Slio was offered an engagement and played a revue at iho Garrick. Now, the plot thickens. "I (that is to say, James Todhunter Sloan) took a flat at Bedford Mansions, and was m tbo midst of business 'and having somo klnenmtofrruph pictures made when a letter came front Madame d'Hcrlys m l*aris, saying that her daughter had secured an cntrasofn^nt; that they wore strangers In Ixmdon, and aaklngr my advice about where to atop. 1 wrote. offering them a i>arl of my apartmonta until they found quarters to suit and know how long they would remain. So far all was wolL" Now, we're gottinj? nearer to It. "It would still have been woll l^ut for an English array man. Ha Hunted mo up. He's tho fool kind, you know — the hero-worehippcr. HE WANTED MY BOOK. j and I took him to my apartment to set i

it. Then he wanted to play a game. I didn't want to play. I had played but one game m London. That was with a party of American friends, and I lost to them, so I never heard anything about it. But this fellow kept on asking me to play. Since he had paid two guineas for my book, an edition de luxe of it, I felt under obligations to be decent to him." Cutting the story short, the fool kind of an army officer lost a lot of money, "had a run of bad luck." Then came dishonored LO.U.'s. A jealous woman appeared on the scene. "She had heard that I had as my, guests the famous beauty D'Herlys and her mother, and she was afraid the lieutenant would lose his heart to her. She determined ito get us both out of the country. Stories were told to two detectives. They reported to the Home Office. I had no hearing at the Home Office. Pull prevented it. The first thing I knew, four detectives rushed into my flat and ordered me to leave the kingdom." "Tod" describes the scene. "'Why?' said I. . ■ "'Because you are an undesirable alien,' they answered.- 'And these women must go too.' , "Madame d'Herlys and her daughter were hysterical. "What does it mean?" they asked. 'I don't know,' I answered, Tint we must go.' "In half an hour we were gone, they to Paris and I to New York. We were the innocent victims of woman's cupidity, and jealousy." And m the words "undesirable aliens," we have the whole secret. "Tod" Sloan and his beautiful La Belle d'Herlys WERE, OUT "MUG-CATCHING." "Tod" Sloan was a "fashionable" sort of "bludger," and La Belle was his tool, his decoy duck. Why there should be any mystery about it, beats "Truth." There Is a British law which Is often put into operation, and It has to deal with the White Slavers. It is not to be wondered at that President Woodrow Wilson did not write a note.