THE MELBOURNE SWEEP SWINDLERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1173, 13 November 1883, Page 3

THE MELBOURNE SWEEP SWINDLERS.

Full accounts of the consternation that was created in Melbourne on the discovery that the parties representing the Loco ’ and ‘ Spero ’ sweeps had levanted, are given in the papers just received. The * Argus ’ states that the former affair, called the ‘ Loco’s' Sporting Club, Limited, was managed by an ex-coachman named W. J. Mackay, who called himself Secretary, and so great was the business done by the ‘Club’ that be employed several clerks. On Monday! after the Caulfield races, a crowd besieged the office at an early hour, none appearing to have any idea that Mackay had cleared out. Most of them were very jubilant, and the amounts they expected to receive ranged from £5 to £7O, and great was the disgust on the discovery being made that ‘ Mr Mackay ’ had flown. It is supposed he must have carried away with him about £2OOO The promoters of the ‘Spero’ Sporting Club, Adam Easton and Henry Evans, were well known on the Melbourne turf, but not favorably by any means. They appear to have commenced their career there about eight years ago by running a wheel of fortune orjspinning jenny on the Fleraington Racecourse. They did not do much in this line and in the Grand Flaneur year they were defaulters to a large amount. They got up a £2OOO sweep on the Melbourne Cup, but they managed by ' financing ’ to avoid any settlement. Encouraged by the gullibility of the public they apparently determined to go in for another swindle and their success demonstrates how easy it is for clever scoundrels to fleece that section of the public who support these sweeps They are supposed to have cleared out with £3OOO.

The ‘ irgus ’ gives a list of some of these consulation sweeps, representing over £200,000, and concludes a strong article on the subject as follows : —“ In the majority of the clubs no books are kept, and the only record is the chalked black-board hanging on the wall. During the last few months serious irregularities are said to have taken place in several of the clubs, and it is generally reported that the ‘ Bpero ’and ‘ Loco ’ frauds are only tbe forsrunners of more serious failures of the same character. No steps whatever have been taken by the authorities in connection with these frauds, but a movement is on foot among some of the persons who have been victimised to collect funds for the purpose of instituting oriminal proceedings.”