MARKED CARDS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8866, 17 July 1907, Page 4

MARKED CARDS.

Undergraduates filled the Assise Court at Cambridge, and followed with the greatest attention a case in which marked cards aud gambling losses were discussed. . In the dock for eight long hours stood Harold Collingo, a Scntle-mnnlv-lookiDg young man ox 40, & with *couspiring f With am« named Mnsgrave .to cheat three undergraduates, named Caldwell, late and Agnew. at bridge, poker and banker! The other defendant, Ter. .non Cecil Elllngham Mnsgrare, has disappeared while at liberty on bail, and a warrant for his attest has been an undergraduate named Keith Caldwell, >id counsel, who had first met Mnsgrave on the boat coming from Gibraltar, and who nrited the defendants down to Oambridgo. Caldwell called took wit£t him another student nanufa Alan Agnew. Cards were played on a-number of occasions, wi result that Agnew lost £*, 15 |* well £l4 18s, and Tate £3l 18s. Two packs of cards were used on these occasions. One pack, with *ue university and college arms, had slight marks on the top right-hand and bottom left-hand corner of ail the high cards. These marks had been made. 'The other cards had a circle in each corner which contained a cyclist and two birds. The birds denoted the suit For instance, on clubs both birds had tails. On spades, the birds had no tails. On diamonds, the top bird had a tail, but the bottom bird had no tail. On the hearts, it was tlie bottom bird which had a tail. , The discovery of the cheating was the result of an accident. Tate happened to leave bis motor coat in the defendant’s rooms, and gomg for t the following afternoon he found the place deserted. Casually opening bridge box he took out a pack of card!, and found that they were so designed that birds and shading on their backs told their values. A visit to the police resulted in the arrest of both Mnsgrave and Oollinge, and the finding of another pack of cards marked by thumb-nail scratches. Collingo gave evidence on lus own behalf. He said he bad been married nearly a year. He met Masgrave at an up-Tliames house last year, aud frequently travelled about with him, believing him to be a man of subtance and partner in a city firm While at Bournemouth Musgrave told him lie had an invitation from Mr Caldwell to visit Cambridge, aud asked him to accompany him and lend him his new motor , car. so that he could take Caldwell out for rides. As a consideration Mnsgrave offered to pay the expenses of Collingo and his wife while they were at Cambridge. Coming to the card-playing episodes Collingo denied any 6 ull ty knowledge or intent. He did not know Mnsgrave bad any cards which 1 were marked or unfair in any way, and he had not profited therefrom. He admitted baaing had a bookmaking business at Maidenhead. Ho gave it up after six months’ uncomfortable experience. The judge asked the prisoner if his wife bad any private means, and Collingo replied that she was an actress, and made a considerable amount of money when she was : playing. He admitted having ilved t extravagantly. | The jury found the accused Not sguily, ” and he was discharged. The I undergraduates in court made a 5 demonstration, but received the ver--1 diet very well, "