SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A CRICKETER

Dunstan Times, Issue 1275, 6 August 1886, Page 1

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A CRICKETER

The “ Stroud News” of June 11th gives the following account of a case heard at the Cheltenham Police Court on the previous Monday, in which Mr W. R. Gilbert, the well-known member of the Gloucestshire cricket team was brought up on two charges of stealing money, the property of brother members of the East Gloucestershire Cricket Club. The case created a most painful sensation :

Mr W. R. Gilbert, the well-known member of the Gloucestershire cricket team, was on Monday brought before the Cheltenham magisti ates on two charges of stealing money, the property of brother members of the East Gloucestershire Cricket Chib. Mr Waghorne appeared for the defence.— Captain Willes, bon. sec of the club, said that various sums of money having been lost out of pockets of members of the club, he communicated with the police about three weeks ago, and it was arranged that a policeman should go to the ground and watch. On Saturday last,between 10 and 11 in the morning, he placed his coat and waistcoat on a peg in the dressing room on the cricket ground. In the pockets were a sovereign, a half-sovereign, three half-crowns, two shillings, and a sixpence, all marked money, and threepence in coppers unmarked. About 12.15 P.S, Woodford called him, and at his request witness searched his pockets and found that a half-sovereign and a shilling had been taken. The accused, on being appealed to by the sergeant, produced the half-sovereign from his pocket, and at the police station, subsequently, he identified the money by the marks which had been placed upon them in his presence by Superintendent M'Rae.—Sergeant Woodford said that on Saturday morning last he went to the pavilion on the cricket ground and secreted himself above the dressing-room, other members of the club being in the room at that time. The accused changed, and at ten minutes past 12 o’clock was in the room alone. Captain Willes’ coat and waistcoat were hanging next to the 1 prisoner’s trousers. Witness saw pri--3 soner search Captain Willes’ waistI coat pockets and take from one of 1 them the half-sovereign now produced. Prisoner took the coin out with Ms left hand, and put it into the left-hand pocket of his trousers. At half past one o’clock, lunch time, prisoner came into the dressing-room, Captain Willes being also present. In the prisoner’s hearing, witness asked Captain Willes if he had lost anything, and after searching his pockets Cap. tain Willes said he had lost half-aa i sovereign and one shilling. Witness told prisoner ho saw him go to Captain Willes’ waistcoat and take half-a-sovereign from a pocket, and asked him where it was. Prisoner then pulled halfa-sovereign from his lefthand trousers pocket. Captain Willes told prisoner he was very sorry, • but that kind of thing had been going on for the last tluee years. Prisoner replied, “ I can assure you 1 never did it before this • season, and if you forgive me, I will leave the country and go to Australia.”—Evidence was then given that flic prisoner also stole halfa-sovereign from a waistcoat belonging to Mr W. P. Piers, the money in this case being also marked.— Prisoner having pleaded guilty, Mr Waghorne, On behalf of the prisoner, pleaded for a fine, instead of imprisonment, and said that tbc prisoner had already punished himself far more than the Bench enuid punish him. Tho only hope ho had to retrieve his chas racier was to leave the country, and, connected as he was, that virtually meant transport ttion. The prisoner bitterly regretted his conduct, and had committed trie offence from an uuoon- * Reliable impulse. The Bench re- , glutted that they could not, in justice, j inflict a fine, and sentenced prisoner to fourteen days’ hard labor for each of the two offences. Mr W. R. Gilbert, against whom this charge was heard, is a cousin of the Graces, and married a Miss Lilly* white, so that bv family connection, as we'l as his own ability, ho is a born cricketer. He has often rendered brilliant serve to the county eleven, and lias appeared in many a liists class match outside of his county. • Both with the bat and ball ho has been one of the main supports of the ’ Gloucestershire team, and as a crickoa ter was looked up to with universal respect. A year cr two ago he was . unfortunate with regard to Ins pcon- * niaiy affairs, which underwent liquidation. At the commencement of the present season he elected to change For rest of Is'eivs see Fourth Page.