A RUNNING SCANDAL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2588, 24 April 1877, Page 3

A RUNNING SCANDAL.

At the Eastern Oval races at Ballarat a I 100 yards race was to have been run between Sharp, a local man, and Selby, of the All-England Eleven. The Star says that during the progress of the handicap it was more than hinted that there would be no 100 yards spin; but when the starting bell rang Sharp emerged in tights^and screens, meeting Selby fully dressed at the reserve gate. Selby then informed Sharp that he would not run, as the original agreement to *un for £100 aside was off, and that he would not run for nothing. Sharp offered iim £5 to run off for honor, and met with the same reply, the crowd, which very quickly gathered, cheering Sharp loudly. An uproar arose, the mob jeering one of Selßy's companions, who shouted back a challenge to Sharp's backers to bring their "sugar," as their "(the Englishman's) man was "not going to run for nothing. The shouts of false play and cheers continued for a time, but sank into silence when Selby mounted one of the uprights of the reserve fence. With a furious tirade of abuse against Sharp's . principal backer, Mr E. Williams, Selby volunteered to expose " a swindle." The match he said, was made at the first visit of the team to Ballarat, when he and Sharp had each deposited £10. Then he had sent*£4o to Mr Watson, solicitor, and telegraphed from New Zealand on three occasions to ask if Sharp's money had been posted. The cost of these telegrams he had borne himself, and at.Christchurch, j receiving no reply to his telegrams, and I fearing tbat " something was up," he sent Mr Watson, through the Union Bank, the second £50, making up his £100. At last he received news that Sharp had. forfeited his £10, and found that Williams and Sharp had conspired to deceive him. Hearing from Ballarat people that WilEbns was not reliable, he had got a Mr Cooke —a sporting'tnan —to arrange matters for him. Williams had offered him £10 and a third of the gate money taken on the day of the races' to run Sharp. He had been badly treated, for the original agreement, which was off, had been used to draw people to the Oval. The cost of his telegrams, and even of one Mr Watson to himself, he had to pay ; and instead of " getting back his own £100, with Sharp's £10, he only received £109. He then, in the heat of passion, used several epithets towards Mr Williams and Sharp, and made assertions as to the private character of the former that we cannot print. The speech was interrupted several times by cheers from the. crowd, and Selby concluded with a challenge to Sharp to run for £500 a side within ten days, putting down £200, or he would run Sharp. " for £25, if he'd a mind." ' When Selby had finished, Williams addressed the : crowd from one of the seats in the reserve. The fickle crowd cheered him in much the same style as they had, done Selby, and the " washing of dirty linen " seemed to be thoroughly enjoyed. Mr Williams said that when the match was made they had thoroughly intended to go on with it. Several persons had offered to subscribe to make up £100 for Sharp, and accordingly the preliminary deposit of £10 was made. When Selby beat Montgomery Sharp's backers gob frightened, and when Selby beat Ellis they refused to pay up their money unless Sharp consented to run to suit them. He would not consent to this, ancljhe was unable himself to risk £100 on Sharp's chance. Mr. Watson had approved of his conduct in the matter, and he had forfeited Sharp's deposit. After some difHculty he had got

Selby to agree to run for part of fho.gate money, and Selby then asked him how Sharp and he were to run. He told him straight, that Sharp would run to ■nin; that Sharp had run under his training for the last five years, and he had never yet won a penny on him, nor had Sharp run a cross. Selby had tsld him that Vhe was a —— fool who would never make money unless his man were run to lose." Ho would give £5 out of his own pocket it Selby would run Sharp. Mr Sweeney was lipre accused by Selby of being. " in " with Williams, and a row arose. Ultimately £25 was collected on the ground to back Sharp, but Shelby refused to run at once. High words arose, and continued until the parties dispersed.