AN ARMY OF “WELSHERS."

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2714, 30 November 1881, Page 2

AN ARMY OF “WELSHERS."

An incident occurred at the last York races which should act as a wai’ning to those who are ever ready to accept the long odds offered by a certain class of “ professional sportsmen ” to be found at all our race meetings. It appears that a party of these bookmakers resolved upon a coup d'etat, and carried it out in a style which will long be remembered. They laid long odds, received the half-sovereigns and halfcrowns of a large body of people, but

when the time for settling arrived, each possessed himself of a heavy cudgle from a sackful which was brought ready for the purpose by one of their confederates, and then they all marched off the racecourse together in something like the military formation, and paying not the slightest heed to the threats and appeals of those with whom they had made bets, and to whom, of coarse, they were under heavy pecuniary obligations. Outsiders laughed as they saw the welshers march away, followed by an excited crowd, and were not surprised at hearing that the latter were kept in awe by the determined attitude of the swindlers, and the sight of the weapons with which they had armed themselves.