MONEY IN BILLIARDS.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 361, 9 April 1912, Page 2

MONEY IN BILLIARDS.

PROFITS OF PROFESSIONALS. "In a world's tour extending over 18 months there should be a clear profit of £10,000," said John Roberts, the retired billiard champion of the Avorld, m the evidence which he gave m the action against George Gray for breach of agreement. This was tried m London last month, before the Lord Chief Justice and a special jury of six, and, as will be remembered, Roberts secured a verdict for £1,500.

The defence was that the agreement between Roberts and Gray (which provided, amongst other things, for a world's tour of 18 months) had been made between the parties owing to a misrepresentation on the part of Roberts' as to the kind of balls that were to be used. Roberts's counsel said that his client was under agreement to use bonzoline balls for a certain period. According to the Grays, Roberts had informed them that this agreement with the Bonzoline Company expired on March 31, 1911. Actually it expired on May 31, and m that case it would hold good for the first two months of the projected tour. But any misunderstanding on the question was denied on the part of plaintiff. Counsel argued that both Gray and his father were conversant with the agreement which Roberts had entered into with the Bonzoline Company. Plaintiff's case was that Gray had agreed to play with bonzoline. He had previously played with bonzoline at Newmarket on an occasion when the King was expected to be present. Continuing, counsel said that Gray had come to England under an engagement to Messrs Riley, who paid him £30 a week. The gross receipts of Messrs Riley had amounted to £5,655, out of which Gray had received £780. No doubt, the Grays thought that by remaining m England they would make more money than they would by going on the projected tour. The ex-champion, who has been very deaf since his recent trip to the Ea6t, owing to the development of an affection J of the ears, was allowed to give his evidence from the well of the court.

Had Gray carried out his agreement, Roberts maintained that, after paying all expenses, there would have been *£10,000 to divide. As regained profits he (Roberts) had made £2,300 out of his match with Dawson m 1899. Then he referred to his match with Peall, the famous "spot-stroke" player, and he stated that his share out of this was £2.200. In his match with North h- had mad* £1,400. In each case the games had lasted a fortnight. Gray, sen., had told him that during their stay m England they had made £1,900 m the course of 26 weeks. Cnoss-examined by Mr Duke (Gray's counsel), Roberts said that, without doubt, a tour of the old champion and the youn** prodigy would prove an attraction, and a very big attraction. He denied that the trouble had arisen about the kind of balls that were to be used. Anyone like Gray could get used to bonzoline m a fortnight, though bonzoline was slightly heavier than cry stall ate, and the "angle" would be slightly different also. The question of Gray using bonzoline balls had been mentioned between then). Gray said he must have some to practise with, and he (Roberts) replied that he had got thousands of bonzoline balls- m Mr Sinclair' 6 cellar. Gray had gone to Mr Sinclair's, and he had selected half a dozen sets.

According to Roberts, India i 6 the happy hunting-ground of the first-class professional. The rajahs treated one royally. For a single afternoon's exhibition game with an amateur the old champion said he had been paid £250. Asked as to the difference between gross receipts and profits m India, he said that none existed. The -rajahs provided bungalows, board, carriages, and paid all hotel expenses.