PLEADED GUILTY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1989, 20 February 1914, Page 7

PLEADED GUILTY.

ATTEMPT TO BRIBE FOOTBALL , , ;■- CAPTAIN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, February 18. i' .Pascoo Bioletti pleaded guilty to a .charge of attempted bribery of a foothell captain, and was sentenced to five months'.-'mprisonment. ;

Pascoe Bioletti, a middle-aged man, was charged with attempting to bribe Jesse Pennington, captain of the West Bromwich Albion Football Club, on the occa-' sion of a. match with Everton. When -the case was in tho Police Court, Mr. J. 8. Sharpe, representing the Albion Football Qlub directors, said tho offence was of a very serious nature. If found'guilty,, prisoner was liable to two years' iinprisonWent ov ,£SOO fine, or both. Oil the-eve' of the match Pennington received-a-visit from' the prisoner, who introduced himself as an Everton .man, and suggested, that Pennington and his fellow-players should ensure that the Albion either draw' or lose the match, agreeing in writing to pay .£55. Accused signed the document Sain Johnston. Pennington communicated with the club's chairman, but nothing was said to the'other players. The facts were laid before the Attorney-Gene-ral, who issued his fiat for. trial. Although lie had called himself Frederick Pater'am} Sa™ Johnston,-prisoner's real name-was Bioletti. He was the father of Willin.m.Alfred Bioletti, who lived atHov» and carried on a most extensive football 'coupon business in: Geneva under the name of Whito Fisher. That firm issued circulars by thousands/, inviting unwary people to, back certain teams, and offermg most advantageous odds,