FOOTBALL BETTING PROSECUTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16003, 20 February 1914, Page 6

FOOTBALL BETTING PROSECUTION

ATTEMPT AT BRIBERY. BIOLETTI SENTENCED TO FIVE MONTHS. Press Association —By Tebgripb—Copyright. LONDON, February 18. Bioletti pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to five months' imprisonment. A well-drc6sed man, whoso name appeared on the charge sheet a 6 Frederick Pater, was charged at Smethwick on Monday, December 1, with tho attempted bribery ot Jesse Pcnn.ngton, the captain of the West Bromwich Albion Football Club. Pennington was captain of tho Albion football team, and a match betwees the Albion and ' liverton was to be played at the Hawthorns. On the Friday afternoon before the match defendant made his appearance in the district, and called at Pennington's shop in the High street. He opened negotiations with Pennington to obtain a certain result on the following day. Pennington acted in a very clever and prudent manner. He asked the defendant to put his offer into writing, and accordingly he wrote to the following effect on a piece of paper, which was supplied to him:—" November 28.—1, Sam JoJinstono, agree to present to Jesse Pennington £55 on the termination of the match played at West Bromwich on November 29 if the result is a draw or loss.—Sam Johnstone, 34 Cleveland Mansions, Brixton, London.' Pennington, having secured that offer, communicated with Mr Bassett, the chairman of directors of tho Albion Club, who, in turn, communicated with the police. It was arranged that a trap should be kid for the defendant. None of the players knew oi the offer, but it was a singular coincidence that the match ended in a draw. After the match Pennington went to the defendant, who had witnessed the game, and said to him, "What about that money?" The defendant then, in the presence of Detective Barker, handed a bag containing £55 to Pennington, who counted it, and the defendant, having performed his part of the contract, was about to leave the ground when he was arrested.

Mr Sharp, who prosecuted, added that there was very little doubt that the defendant was the agent for a very big betting association which issued football coupons, and they had a desire, through the defendant, actually to control the play of various clubs. The present was not the only case in which there might be a prosecution.

Pennington gave evidence bearing out the solicitor's statement.

At a further hearing of the ease it transpired that the accused's name was Pasco Bioletti. Mr J. S. Sharp said that the accused, if guilty, was liable to two yeare imprisonment or a £500 fine, or both. It was stated that on the eve of the match Jesse Pennington, the cap'tain, received a vitut from the accused, who introduced himself as an Everton man, and suggested that Pennington and his fellow players should ensure that the Albion either drew or lost the match, agreeing in writing to pay £55, wh'oh was paid over after the match. Although he had called himself Frederick Pater and Sam Johnstonej the accused's real name was Bioletti. He was the father of William Alfred Bioletti, who lived as, Hove, and carried on a most extensive football coupon betting business in Geneva under the name of White Fisher. That firm issued circulars by thousands, inviting unwary people to back certain teams, and offered most advantageous odds. Pennineton, in his evidence, said the accused saw him before the match, and it was arranged that after he had seen the players ho should "wipe his hand across his nose if ii was all right." The accused, who reserved his defence, was sent for trial, on bail— himself in £1500, with two sureties of £1000 each. '