THE MUTUAL BETTING MACHINE.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 760, 7 January 1871, Page 3

THE MUTUAL BETTING MACHINE.

John Lyshon and Charles Tollett, Birmingham betting men, were recently charged at the Wolverhampton Police-court, with having played at the races in that town with -a certain instrument of gaming. The defendants stood on the course; on Tuesday and Wednesday with a •" Pari-Mntuel," or mechanical betting machine. This is a case, the upper surface of which is perforated with holes covered with glass. By the side of each hole is a number corresponding.with the. number of a horse upon the race card. When a person backs a horse for, say half-a-crown, the owner of the case touches a handle, and in a hole beneath the g lass . appeal's a number, showing the number; of half-crowns which have up to that time been (laid on the particular, horse backed., .. The same movement of the handle shows in another position xipon : tho case the number of bets upon each horse that is being backed for the race about to come off. When the race is over the money laid upon each is added together, and is divided among those who backed the horse that won—the defendants first deducting 10 per cent, for the use of the case. The defence was that the "instrument of gaming" mentioned in the Act of Parliament (the 31 and 32 Victoria) was one upon which alone depended the issue of the bet. But the " mutual betting ". machine had nothing to do with the issue of the bet; it merely recorded the amount for which each horse had been backed, and was in fact' nothing more than a betting book upon a large scale. The magistrate considered it a means of gaming, and sent the defendants to. prison for seven days, with hard labor; but a case was granted, and bail was accepted for their appearance when the decision has been given. Alfred Bevis and liobert Dunn, jun., London betting men, were charged w T ith a similar offence, and remanded for a fortnight.

The Emperor of Eussia gets £SOOO salary a-day ; The Sultan, £3600 ; the King of Prussia, £1640; Victor Emanuel, £IIGS; Queen Victoria, £1250 ; Leopold of Belgium, £36S ; and President Grant, £l6. A person in prison was asked by a friend what it was for. '"For telling lies!" " How is that?" demanded the other. " Why telling people I would pay 'em, and not keeping my word."

The severest thing said against Eve's daughters was by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu : The only satisfaction I have iii being a woman is, that I shall not be compelled to marry one of my own sex."

A gentleman once observed that a person famous in the musical line led a very abandoned life, "Ay," replied a wag, "the whole tenor of his life has been base."

A poor, woman who. had attended several confirmations was -at length recognised by the bishop. " Pray, have I not seen you here before ?" said his lordship. " Yes," replied the woman, "I get confirmed as often as I can; they tell me it is good for the rheumatis."

It is said that bleeding a partially blind horse at the nose will restore his signi: so much for the horse. To open a man's eyes you must bleed his pockets.