"PICK THE LOSERS"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 65, 9 December 1937, Page 8

"PICK THE LOSERS"

Invitation to Betters FRAUD AS SEQUEL LONDON, Oct. 21. A scheme for winning money o« racehorses by backing losers was described at Bow Street. Harold Johnson, of Westbourne Terrace, W., was accused of obtaining money by false pretences. Mr. H. A. K. Morgan, prosecuting, said the false pretence was that a business which he was carrying on, the Express Daily Sports Association, was a genuine commission agent's business. The business was registered at Gloucester Terrace, Bayswater, W., in May, 1936. The public was sent pamphlets headed, "Win money by backing." The circular read:— - "We pay 100 to 1 if you can name six losing horses. Try your skill picking losers. You won £5 for ls, £12 10s for 2s 6d, £25 for 5s, £50 for 10s, £100 for 20s. Can you name six losers in one day? Win big money backing losers. Thousands of pounds waiting to be won. Thousands upon thousands of racing sportsmen ihroughout the country are . joining in this great new sport and skilfully picking out had horses instead of-try-. ing to find winners." . ... t 'Jd&p ' *i| TAILOR'S EVIDENCE. In large type on the form there , was printed, *"Unless postal ' orders are crdssed 'and Co.' and made payable to the Daily Express Association, you risk loss ln the post." "■ That alteration in the name might make people believe that the bets had something to do with. the Daily Express. On June 5 last Johnson offered a Mr. Ley, a tailor, a job in his betting business at £3 a week and commission. Ley left after three weeks becanse he thought the business was dio honest. When Ley asked Johnson, continued Mr. Morgan, what he was to do with the winning coupons, Johnson told him: "Put them asidej for the time being and then send them a 'no " trace.' " In the third week oi his employment Ley kept an account of the takings. A total of £84 2s was received, and there were 193 winners; if each of them had had only ls on, the minimum bet, it would have meant paying out £965. Ley showed these figures to Johnson, and said: "Are you not going to pay anyone?" Johnson said, "Don't be a fool. There is no need to pay anyone." Ley handed some winning coupons to the police. After evidence the hearing was adjourned.