FOOTBALL BRIBERY CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 308, 24 December 1908, Page 6

FOOTBALL BRIBERY CASE.

At Wigan Police Court, before a bencl of seventeen magistrates, the case iv.ireheard in which the Wigan Norther. Union Football Club charged Edwani Croston, a. coaldealcr, with attempting to bribe Todd and Johnston, two Xc\ Zealand players acting as professional of the fljgan team, to throw over thr game against Hunslet on 12th September. ll was alleged that C'roston met flu two players on 10th September in the presence of other people and ill a jocular way asked them to throw over tilgame, in which case he would give them Co apiece. They took no notice, thinking it a joke. On the next day defendant saw the two men privately, and offered them •C2O each and a share of his bettin:.' wins. l/ancelot Jleaumo.it Todd gave evidence of Croston offering hi-in £5 if lie would go down in the Hunslet match, lie said, "You can easily do it, as yon have lieeu hurt ill Wales, and they will think you ale off your game." Witness did not take the proposal! .-'■riously, but on the next night Cro-i----teii offered him C2O and a share of the proceeds of what he made in betting. The defendant went into the box and jlally denied that he was at any time of the Friday in question in the company of the footballers. He spoke to people visiting his house at certain limes oil that day. On the day preceding, he said, he was in an hotel, and ! Todd and Johnston being pointed out j to him, he, in joke, asked them to t'hrow j the game over for a, handful, but he did not say a handful of what. The magistrates unanimously found defendant guilty, and sent him to prison for two months with hard labor.—London Daily Mail.