Chapter XII: Swindles and Hoaxes (2)

Says the writer in the _Sportsman_, after demolishing several of the charges made against ready-money betting: “Take the case of those who bet in the ring, or at Tattersall’s, or in the clubs. What guarantee is there between the contracting parties that there shall be no element of fraud, and consequently no immorality in the transaction? And what guarantee is there that one or other of the contracting parties who is induced to bet is not a person who cannot afford to lose? There is an inducement to bet on either side: on the side of the layer and on the side of the backer, and will any one acquainted with the subject be prepared to say that in scores of cases there is not on both parts a total inability to pay in the event of loss? What man is there who, having seen much of the ring, cannot recall many instances of layers betting to such an extent that they could never pay if the fates were against them, and of backers ‘having’ the ring all round without a sovereign in their pockets? Nay, cannot even the general public who are not initiated into such mysteries remember numbers of men who have ruined themselves and others under the system in which Mr Anderson ‘does not feel there is any immorality,’ because in it ‘the element of fraud is not introduced,’ and because under it ‘people who cannot afford to lose’ are not induced to bet? The result of his bill will be that he will drive men from one style of betting, in which they lose or win, knowing the extent of their gains or their losses, to another, under which they may be drawn into hopeless speculation, and perhaps concomitant fraud, simply because they are not called on for ready money. We do not propose to follow Mr Anderson through his ingenious and amusing descriptions of the advertisements of tipsters and ‘discretionary-investment’ people. He was good enough to introduce ourselves as a striking example of the facility with which such persons could foist their schemes on the public, and of the large profits which were derived by certain newspaper proprietors from them. He had the honesty to acknowledge that we had refused to take any further announcements with respect to ‘discretionary investments,’ and that we had persistently cautioned our readers to have nothing to do with them.... As for tipsters, who merely offer to give information for a shilling’s worth of stamps, what immorality can there be in that which is not to be found in the ‘selections’ of the daily newspapers? Even the _Times_, in a roundabout ‘respectable’ way, now and then indicates horses which, in the opinion of its sporting writer, will win certain races, and there is hardly a daily paper in town or country which has not its regular ‘prophet,’ who from day to day lifts up his voice or his pen and offers inducements to the public to bet. Can any one of such journals say to us, ‘I am holier than thou, because I sell my prophecies for a penny, and thou insertest the advertisements of men who want a dozen stamps for theirs’? But the whole policy of objecting to certain classes of advertisements is absurd. If the proprietor of a newspaper were to inquire, even superficially, into the _bona fides_ of all the announcements he makes every day, his journal could not be conducted. If he were even to confine his attention to the examination of the prospectuses of joint-stock companies--and this will appeal to Mr Anderson--he would be in the Bankruptcy Court in six months. Suppose the directors of any one of hundreds of bubble concerns which every year carry away the public with ‘bogus’ announcements were to appear before the manager of the _Times_ with their prospectuses, what would they think if he said, ‘Gentlemen, before I insert this you must prove to me that it is not a gross swindle;’ and how would they proceed to do so?”

We admit to a weakness for reading the sporting papers, and can therefore vouch for the truth of what the _Sportsman_ says about its own action. It would have been well, however, if other papers had been as careful, for we happen to know that all the contemporaries of the journal from which we have quoted did not come out with quite such clean hands. Some not only continued to insert the advertisements, despite numerous complaints, but actually _doubled the usual tariff price_ to the thieves. This seems to have been a pretty general proceeding when the discretionary movement was at its height, all papers which continued to insert the specious swindles after the exposures had begun being very careful to be well paid for their trouble. As in these days the plain truth is often the most desperate of libels, we must refrain from particularising; but we should think that no one in his sober senses will dispute the evident fact that such newspaper proprietors as took double pay from men because they knew they were assisting them in robbery, were morally far and away more guilty than the robbers themselves. If any apology is needed for our going so far into the betting subject, it will be found in the almost total ignorance, as well as the blind prejudice, which is every day manifested about the difference between the commission agents and their greatest enemies, the advertising welchers.

The raid which drove the bookmakers from London to the principal towns in Scotland seems almost to have been organised by the authorities in the interest of the scamps of the betting world. It certainly was considerably to the latter’s advantage. In the hurry and turmoil which eventuated from the hegira, it was hard for people who were not experts to tell the good men from the bad; and as, the more unfounded a man’s pretensions, the greater were his promises, letters containing remittances almost swarmed into the offices least worthy of confidence. One good, however, resulted from this. The conversion of sinners we have the best authority for regarding as a blessing, and it must be admitted that owing to the manner in which money poured in upon them, and one or two subsequent bits of luck in the way of unbacked horses’ victories, men who went to Glasgow and Edinburgh as adventurers, if not as actual thieves, remained to become not only solvent, but strictly virtuous. It was not, however, until affairs had somewhat settled down in the North, until Scotland began to be regarded as the permanent abode of the layer of odds, that advertisements which on the face of them were gigantic swindles appeared. Hitherto the attempts of impostors had been confined to a semblance of really fair and legitimate business, the firm being existent as long as there was nothing to pay, and _non est_ immediately the blow came. And people who imagine that a bookmaker has nothing to do but take money, would respect him rather more than they do now if after one or two big races they could see his account, and note the scrupulous manner in which every debt is paid, if he bids for respectability in his vocation. A delay of a day in his settlement would lead to unpleasant results, for the very contiguity of the thieves makes the honest men more exact in their transactions. So it is usual, when a man has money to receive by post from a commission agent, for him to get it at once, or most likely not at all. The tipstering and touting fraternities had, while the headquarters of advertising turfites remained in London, been satisfied with short paragraphs intimating their absolute knowledge of the future, and their willingness to communicate such knowledge to the British public for a consideration in the way of stamps, or a percentage on winnings. But when once ready money had been tasted, it seemed to act on these people as blood is said to on tigers, and they determined to have more at all risks. It was useless to try for it a year or so after the migration by applications couched in the ordinary style, for the run of business was by that time divided among certain firms, and the old slow way of giving advice for shillings and sixpences was abhorrent to minds that soared after bank-notes and post-office orders; besides, it had very nearly worn itself out. Fresh moves were therefore necessary, and they were made in various ways, each of which was more or less successful. The most important of them all, and the one with which we have to do now, was the discretionary-investment dodge, which was for a time a complete success, and which would have lasted much longer than it did, had it not been for the faculty of imitation possessed by thieves other than those who inaugurated the venture. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but even flattery must be painful when it is destructive, and Messrs Balliee & Walter could doubtless have dispensed with the crowds who followed in their wake, and almost made the fortunes of all papers who would take their advertisements. We are not aware whether the system was invented by Balliee & Walter, either or both; but, anyhow, they were its first promoters to any extent, and became thoroughly identified with it. Rumour states that Balliee was a kind of Mrs Harris, and that Walter was the firm. This is nothing to us, though, however much it may be to those who were despoiled of their cash by the discretionary swindle. The advertisements put forth for the benefit of those willing to trust their money blindly into the hands of men of whom they knew nothing must have been very successful, for it is admitted that the letters received in Glasgow for Balliee & Walter were so enormous in quantity that special arrangements had often to be made for their delivery. It is noticeable that swindlers of this description always assume that their firm is not only long established but well known, and the following, taken from the first page of the _Sporting Life_ of the Derby-day 1871, will show that the particular people in question had no scruple about inventing facts for the purpose of substantiating their arguments:--

THE KINGSCLERE LONDON AND GLASGOW TURF
COMMISSION AGENCY.

Messrs. BALLIEE and WALTER beg to inform their subscribers and the
sporting public that, in consequence of increase of business, they
have opened a Commission Agency in Glasgow, where in future all
commissions will be executed.

Gentlemen may rely on liberal treatment and prompt settlement of all
claims. All letters answered same day as received.

* * * * *

MESSRS. BALLIEE AND WALTER

(Members of the principal West-End Clubs),

62, JAMAICA STREET, GLASGOW.

As heretofore, Commissions of every description, and to any amount,
will be undertaken, the following being the leading features:--

INVESTMENTS ON FORTHCOMING EVENTS effected at the best Market Prices.

FIRST FAVOURITES backed at the post, and the rate of odds guaranteed
as quoted by the sporting paper the investor chooses to adopt.

JOCKEYS’ MOUNTS invested upon in accordance with any scale or
principle.

POST COMMISSIONS for EPSOM MEETING will meet with prompt attention.

* * * * *

THE EPSOM CARNIVAL.

THE OAKS A CERTAINTY.

“So if to be a millionaire at present is your aim,
Don’t hesitate, but join at once our systematic gains.”

Shakspeare, revised and improved.

A SAFE INVESTMENT.--WINNING A CERTAINTY.

KINGSCLERE RACING CIRCULAR
DISCRETIONARY INVESTMENTS.

Messrs. BALLIEE and WALTER, Proprietors
(Members of the principal West-End Clubs).

The only recognised method by which backers of horses can win large
sums at all the principal meetings.

PROSPECTUSES FREE ON RECEIPT OF ADDRESS.

* * * * *

MESSRS. BALLIEE and WALTER draw the attention of investors to the
all-important fact that they alone of all firms who undertake
Discretionary Investments are to be seen personally in the Ring, and
are represented at the lists outside, at every meeting throughout the
racing season. Some firms, although they state they are present, are
never to be seen.

SELECTED MORTEMER TO WIN AND A PLACE
FOR CHESTER CUP;
THE DWARF,
GREAT NORTHERN;
LORD HAWTHORN,
FLYING DUTCHMAN;
STANLEY,
DONCASTER SPRING HANDICAP;

With nearly every other winner at York and Newmarket.
We defy contradiction, and court inquiry.

RESULTS OF LATE MEETINGS:--

Each £10 investor at York was remitted by Friday’s post (May 12) £108
nett winnings.

Each £5 investor at Doncaster was remitted by Monday’s post, £85.

Being exclusive of stake and nett return after commission (5 per
cent.) had been deducted.

Newmarket accounts and winnings were forwarded by Tuesday’s post, May
16.

Gentlemen of capital and backers of horses can now judge of the
intrinsic value of this infallible system of backing our Final
Selection at the post.

* * * * *

MESSRS. BALLIEE and WALTER will continue their highly successful
system of DISCRETIONARY INVESTMENTS at the

EPSOM MEETING,

where they personally attend, and as such a great influx of business
is expected during the Derby Week, they have engaged three extra
Commissioners to assist them in carrying out the system, and again are
sanguine of realising a gold-achieving victory.

AT EPSOM MEETING LAST SUMMER, SEASON 1870,

Each £25 investor was returned £703 nett Winnings, in addition to
stake deposited.

Each investor of £20 in 1868 realised £487.
„ £25 „ 1869 „ £324 15s.
„ £50 „ 1870 „ £1,406.

The above sums were paid to each investor of the specified amounts,
and this season we with confidence assert that the investments will be
more remunerative to the investor.

The Oaks this season will be won by, comparatively speaking, an
outsider. Last season’s subscribers will remember our warning them
against Hester, and we assure our readers that Hannah will, like all
the Baron’s favourites, be doomed to defeat. A clever Northern
division have a filly the beau ideal of Blink Bonny, as being tried a
7℔ better animal than Bothwell, and with health must win the fillies’
race in a canter. The owner most unfortunately omitted to enter her
for the Two Thousand and Derby, or we should have seen her credited
with the first-named event, and first favourite for Blue Riband
honours.

SEVERAL RODS ARE IN PICKLE

for the minor events. Particulars were given in our last week’s
Circular (May 12), and even at this distant period we are enabled to
predict the success of six certain winners.

HAVING HORSES OF OUR OWN,

and others identical with our interests, running at this meeting,
coupled with the important commissions we have the working of at
EPSOM.

Our knowledge of market movements, the intimate terms we are on with
the various owners, jockeys, and trainers, our social position with
the élite of the racing world, enables us to ascertain the intentions
of other owners and the chances their respective candidates
possess--information far beyond the reach of other advertisers.

This is by no means all; we merely pause to take breath and recover self-possession, after a steady perusal of Mr Walter’s benefactions. It is noticeable that the standard of verse employed by these philanthropists is about on a par with their standard of morality. It seems wonderful that any sane person should believe in the existence of a certain guide to the winning-post, and the idea that, if there had been such a thing, Messrs Balliee & Walter would have assuredly used it for themselves alone, never seems to have entered into the heads of their victims, at all events until too late. After the vaunt about position and information, the intimates of “the _élite_ of the racing world” go on:--

MESSRS. BALLIEE and WALTER, alone of all firms that undertake
Discretionary Investments, are to be seen personally in the Ring, and
they wish to draw the attention of Turf speculators to the fact that
NO OTHER ADVERTISERS ARE OWNERS OF HORSES, despite what they may say
to the contrary. If their systems equalled ours, would they not accept
the challenge given by us for the past twelve months in the various
sporting papers? Vide commencement of advertisement.

So sanguine are we of success at Epsom, the innumerable and peculiar
advantages presented, and every facility being offered for the
successful working of our

DISCRETIONARY METHOD,
that we are enabled to
GUARANTEE AGAINST LOSS,
and assert with confidence that
WINNING IS REDUCED TO AN ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY.

DEPOSIT REQUIRED FOR DISCRETIONARY INVESTMENTS AT THE
EPSOM SUMMER MEETING:--
£500, £100, £50, £25, £10, or £5.

By investing in accordance with this infallible method of backing our
final selections at the post, loss is simply an impossibility, and
guaranteed against,

WINNING BEING REDUCED TO AN ABSOLUTE
CERTAINTY.

This often-repeated assertion (and not once contradicted for the past
five years), and the winnings realised weekly for subscribers who
patronise this system, is sufficient to prove its intrinsic value.

This is just the sort and class of meeting for gentlemen of capital
and systematic investors to invest a £500 or £1,000 bank, being indeed
a golden opportunity that all should embrace. The fact of our
guaranteeing

A WIN EQUAL TO OUR SUCCESS OF LAST SUMMER,
and, as previously stated,
GUARANTEE TO HOLD THE INVESTOR AGAINST LOSS OF EVEN A
FRACTIONAL PART OF CAPITAL EMPLOYED,

should be sufficient to convince gentlemen of the true character and
value of this infallible method of backing our final selections at the
post.

CAN ANY SYSTEM BE SO LUCRATIVE TO THE
INVESTOR?

Our position as owners of horses and proprietors of “THE KINGSCLERE
RACING CIRCULAR,” the most successful medium of all Turf advices, and
has treble the circulation of any other circular published; the
flattering encomiums passed on our “Infallible Method” by the Sporting
Press of the United Kingdom, and being recommended by them as

“The only recognised method by which backers of horses can win
large sums at all the principal meetings;”

coupled with our position as the most influential Commission Agents
both in the London and Manchester Markets, ensure gentlemen entrusting
us with Discretionary Investments being fairly and honestly dealt
with, and the successes that we promise and achieve meeting after
meeting in the columns of this and other papers.

* * * * *

FACTS ARE STUBBORN THINGS.

The following average results speak volumes in favour of this
method:--

The following successes have been achieved this season by

THE KINGSCLERE RACING CIRCULAR’S
INFALLIBLE METHOD
OF
DISCRETIONARY INVESTMENTS.

Each £25 investor at Enfield received nett winnings value £200.

Each £10 investor at Lichfield was remitted by Thursday’s post (April
13) £82 10s., being winnings and stake included, after the 5 per cent.
commission had been deducted.

Each investor of a £10 stake at the Lincoln Meeting received nett
winnings of £180 10s. by Tuesday’s post, March 28.

Each investor at Liverpool in accordance with this system, on two
investments, viz.,

THE LAMB Win,
SCARRINGTON A place,

realised £75 with each £10 invested.

A £10 stake realised £200 nett winnings at the Burton (Lincoln)
Meeting.

A £25 stake invested on Waterloo Cup realised £300,

MASTER MCGRATH

being selected right throughout the piece, and again in finals with
Pretender.

A £10 stake realised at the Cambridgeshire Meeting the sum of £240
nett winnings.

A £5 stake at the West Drayton Meeting realised £30 nett winnings.

Bromley and several other meetings were also highly successful.

At Croxton Park each £10 invested realised £102 nett.

Each £25 invested at Thirsk realised £150.

THE ABOVE AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN PAID THIS SEASON TO ALL PATRONS WHO
ENTRUSTED US WITH DISCRETIONARY INVESTMENTS OVER THESE MEETINGS, again
proving the value of this method over all others advertised.

The past augurs well for the future, as the above successes testify.
We personally attend EPSOM, and are always successful at this meeting.

A LOSS HAS NEVER OCCURRED TO FOLLOWERS OF OUR SYSTEM, and this season
we are even more than ever confident of success.

Cash reaching us on Thursday will be in time for two days’
investments; and cash arriving by Friday’s first post will be invested
on Oaks winner and the last day of the meeting.

Five per cent. deducted from all winnings.

THE LARGER THE STAKE, THE GREATER SCOPE IS AVAILABLE
FOR LUCRATIVE SPECULATION.
LOSS OF STAKE IS IN ALL CASES GUARANTEED AGAINST.

The opulent winnings realised weekly throughout the season cannot fail
to convince systematic speculators that this system is the par
excellence of all methods for winning large sums at each and every
important race-gathering.

Winnings and account of investments will be forwarded on Monday, May
29.

Investors can have their winnings (less 5 per cent.) remitted by open
cheque or bank notes, as preferred, by signifying their wishes on that
point when remitting cash for investment.

One trial is sufficient to prove to the most sceptical the value of
this method over all others advertised. Gentlemen who have lost their
money in the so-called winning modus swindles, or through following
their own fancies, advice of puffing tipsters, newspaper selections,
backing first favourites, jockeys’ mounts, or any other system, should
give our infallible method a trial at the Epsom Meeting. Cash should
be forwarded to reach us on or before Tuesday, addressed to Mr W. H.
WALTER, 62 Jamaica-street, Glasgow. If after that date, address
letters, &c., &c., W. H. WALTER (of Kingsclere), Box 20, Post-office,
Epsom, where due precaution has been taken for their safe delivery.

Cheques to be crossed, Bank, Newbury. Letters containing gold or notes
to be registered. Scotch and Irish notes taken as cash. Stamps, 20s.
6d. to the pound. P.O. Orders in all cases to be made payable to W. H.
WALTER, and drawn on the Post-office, Newbury, Berkshire.

⁂ The successes we achieve weekly, our social status on the Turf, the
years we have been before the public, the fact of our being promoters
of Discretionary Investments, our selecting Jack Spigot for City and
Suburban, Vulcan for Lincoln Handicap, the Lamb for Grand National,
Bothwell for Two Thousand, Mortemer (a place), Chester Cup, the Dwarf
for Great Northern Handicap; Lord Hawthorn, Flying Dutchman’s
Handicap; Stanley, Doncaster Handicap, with nearly every other winner
at York and Doncaster, &c., prove the value of our information and the
integrity and value of our system of backing Discretionary
Investments.

* * * * *

THE

KINGSCLERE RACING CIRCULAR of Friday next (May 26), price 1s., will
contain a Review of the Derby running, and the WINNER OF THE ASCOT
STAKES, with some important notes anent ROYAL HUNT CUP and ST. LEGER,
with selections and keys for all races at the Manchester, Scarborough,
Winchester, West Drayton, and Wye Meetings. Notes on the Two Year Old
Form of the Season, and a Bird’s-eye View of the Middle Park Plate,
being particulars of Walter’s Visit to the Dark Two Year Olds at their
Training Grounds. Terms:--Season, 21s.--Address orders and letters, W.
H. WALTER (of Kingsclere), Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith, London, W.

In thanking our Derby subscribers for their past support, we
respectfully solicit a continuance of their favours on the above
terms.

The Private Telegraphic Key Book will be issued to Season Subscribers
only in the course of a few days. Those that intend renewing their
subscriptions should do so at once.

It must not be imagined that this advertisement was intended to obtain one large haul before the business was abandoned. With little alteration it ran for a very considerable time in many papers, and the expenses of advertising alone must have been enormous. For it is not to be expected that any blind credulity exhibited itself in the various publishing offices, and hard cash, and plenty of it, had to be expended before a line of Balliee & Walter’s was allowed to appear. It will be seen by what we have quoted that winnings and accounts of investments are promised on Monday, and in true business-like style every depositor received his envelope. With what feverish anxiety many must have torn open the enclosure! So many men, so many minds, says the proverb, and the ways of expressing wrath must have been various indeed. We are, however, not in a position to furnish any particulars as to how the news was received, it is enough to know what the information was. And, as may be guessed, it was not satisfactory. The circulars were always neatly constructed, and set forth with a regret that owing to a combination of untoward circumstances the hopes of the chief investor, “the man at the post,” had been dashed, and for that week--always the first week of such an occurrence--matters had resulted disastrously. Then would follow a statement of account, in which it was shown that investments had been fortunate at the outset, that then they had changed, and that by placing too much money on an apparent certainty, so as to recover the losings, the whole bulk of the bank had departed, never to return. The sums received by Messrs Balliee & Walter were of course various, and according to the amount, so was the table arranged; but there was a great family likeness about them all, the principle being to show that the horses, when they did not win, were very close up, and so seconds, with now and again a third, were nearly always chosen! Thus one £10 stake for the Derby week of 1871--the week in which the advertisement given appears--was accounted for thus:--

Epsom, Tuesday, May 23. Won. Lost.

Trial Stakes, Manille, -- £0 10 0
Horton Stakes, Trident, -- 1 0 0
Maiden Plate, Queen Bee, -- 2 0 0
Rous Stakes, Banderolle, -- 0 10 0
Woodcote Stakes, Cremorne (11 to 8 on), £0 14 6 --

Wednesday.

Bentinck Plate, Lady Atholstone, -- 0 10 0
Derby, King of the Forest, -- 1 0 0
Stanley Stakes, Hamilton, -- 2 0 0
Match, Lizzie Cowl (5 to 4 on), 0 8 0 --
Manor Stakes, Holdenby, -- 0 10 0
Town Plate, Banderolle, -- 1 0 0

Thursday.

Glasgow Plate, Countryman (2 to 1 on), 0 5 0 --
High Level Handicap, Free Trade, -- 0 10 0
Two-year-old Stakes, Clotilde filly, -- 1 0 0
Tadworth Stakes, Manna, -- 2 0 0

£1 7 6 £12 10 0

With five per cent. commission charged on the winnings, this left a balance £1, 3s. 9½d. due to Messrs Balliee & Walter, which it was hoped would be at once remitted. This was cruel, but crueller still was the statement, that had the stake been larger, affairs would have arranged themselves satisfactorily, as a great change took place at the close of Thursday and on Friday, and those whose banks lasted over the first run of ill-luck left off winners of large sums. With the demand for payment of balance came a request which, from its very coolness, must have staggered those who, being once victimised, could see through the swindle, though in very many instances--as if in corroboration of Mr Carlyle’s theory--it was complied with. This was a desire for a fresh trial, and positive security from loss was guaranteed. It is noticeable in the table given that by a judicious selection of races and horses the winnings were bound to be always low, as animals with odds on are selected, and that when stakes are lowest. When on the doubling principle the stake on the chosen winner would be inconveniently large a race was omitted. The returns made were necessarily various, but that given is an accurate representative of the system.

Balliee & Walter continued to flourish for a long time; but whether it was that they became individually greedy, whether newspaper proprietors became exorbitant in their demands on the spoil, or whether rivalry affected them, we know not, all we do know is that they committed a most openly outrageous act on a race-course, and the bubble at once burst. It may seem strange that anything discretionary-investment agents, who had been gradually becoming a byword and a reproach, could do would affect their position; but our duty is to record the fact, and not to allow it to be disputed on any theoretic grounds. If they had calmly continued to merely swindle, they might have advertised till now; but they outraged the sanctity of the British race-course, and were damned for all time, if not to all eternity. They had become possessed by some means or other of a hurdle-racer called Goodfellow, and two or three weeks before one of the suburban gate-money meetings they made a match for him to run a race at it against a very moderate mare. Immediately this was done they circularised all customers, telling them to be sure and back Goodfellow, as he could not possibly lose, and stating that on account of very heavy investments already made, they could afford, as a favour to their clients, to return them double the odds which would be laid against Goodfellow on the day. In the _Kingsclere Racing Circular_, a weekly pamphlet issued by these honourable gentlemen, we find under date March 10, 1871, the following ingenious application. This, it has been since proved, brought heavy sums to the Ravenscourt Park exchequer, whence it was not allowed to depart, Messrs Balliee & Walter, like true and legitimate bookmakers, preferring to lay the 6 to 4’s against their own horse themselves, rather than that their patrons should be inconvenienced by having to take shorter prices from others:--

CROYDON SPECIAL INVESTMENT.

The match--Goodfellow v. Harriett--will come off at Croydon on Tuesday
next. It is simply a matter of putting the coin down and picking it up
again. It is any odds on our horse, and as we wish our Subscribers to
participate in this certainty, we will undertake to obtain for them 6
to 4 for all cash sent, which must reach Mr Walter, Ravenscourt Park,
if possible by Monday evening, and not later than Tuesday’s first
post. Gibson is sure to back Harriett for a 1000, and probably bring
her favourite. The sole reason of us wishing Subscribers to allow us
to invest for them, is to prevent them rushing on and spoiling the
market, which will be to their interest as well as our own. We have
engaged one of the cleverest cross country riders of the day to ride
Goodfellow, and our horse never was so fit and well as at the present
time. Daniels will have the mount of Harriett. Such a chance may not
occur again throughout the season. Investors should speculate a £50 or
£100 Bank. We cannot undertake to invest more than £300 for any one of
our patrons.

By this means Balliee & Walter obtained from their purblind dupes a large amount of money with which to back Goodfellow, and of this they of course placed as much as they could upon Harriett, the opposing candidate. In the race, if race so iniquitous a transaction can be called, the discretionary-investment horse was, as might have been expected, “pulled,” so that Balliee & Walter had all the money they received to the good, besides what they won from the unsuspecting by backing the animal they had pretended to oppose. This led to their gradually disappearing from the front pages of the newspapers, though they continued their business under an _alias_ very successfully. Walter was eventually fined a hundred pounds at one of the metropolitan courts, under the Betting-House Act, 1853, for having carried on a part of his business at Hammersmith. It seems rather ludicrous that a man should have been fined for what he in reality never did. But lawyers and magistrates could not distinguish the difference between betting and only pretending to bet, so they fined Mr Walter just as they would have done if he had been a really honourable man, and had therefore deserved punishment.

From the discretionary-investment class of turf-swindler we will now pass on to another, quite as ingenious and very often as dangerous. A few years back, when opportunity served--that is, when the honest layer of odds was harassed by the police and driven from London, and when good men and bad were almost irremediably mixed up--a sharp rogue hit upon an idea for making the tipstering and private-advice business a means to quite a new phase of imposition. This was known among those who profited by it as “forcing the voucher,” and a very pretty little game it was while it lasted, though the profits of pioneers were of course considerably diminished as soon as ever the secret got wind, by the imitative faculty to which reference has been already made. Commencing, as usual, with small advertisements and large profits, forcers in time found themselves, by stress of competition, obliged to spend a good share of their hard earnings in specially-tempting invitations to those who would go any but the right way towards being wealthy; or else to seek other courses. So in 1872 we find three or four firms occupying a large share of the papers, and giving forth promises without stint. Whether the original forcer was in any of these partnerships it is impossible to tell, as the names were, as a rule, fictitious, and often changed; but whether or not, it is certain that those who advertised heaviest drove all small thieves from the field, and so, two years back, the business, as far as we are concerned, was carried on chiefly by Adkins & Wood, Robert Danby & Co., Marshall & Grant, and James Rawlings & Co., who advertised quite separately, but whose notifications might very easily have been the work of one pen. We will therefore take Rawlings & Co. to represent the fraternity, and in their advertisement which appeared at the end of April 1872 will be found the peculiarities of all the others. This is it:--

DIGBY GRAND sent to every season subscriber, and for a place at
6 to 1, to every reader of
THE PREMIER RACING CIRCULAR.

Proprietors,
JAMES RAWLINGS and Co.,
65, YORK PLACE,
EDINBURGH.

Published by the Proprietors every Saturday, at their chief office, 65
York Place, Edinburgh.

THE PREMIER RACING CIRCULAR still maintains its well-merited
reputation as the only infallible and unerringly-successful winning
guide, by the aid of which private backers can and do, week by week,
realise hundreds of pounds with perfect safety over the principal
races throughout the kingdom. The uninterrupted series of successes
which have attended its vaticinations during past seasons have been
gloriously crowned by the success of every special investment advised
in its pages this season, as will be seen by the following list of
winners already given:--

Price at which
clients were
Race. Selection. Result. put on.

Croydon Footman Won 15 to 1
Lincoln Handicap Guy Dayrell Won 20 to 1
Grand National Casse Tête Won 25 to 1
Nottingham Handicap Flurry Won 10 to 1
Great Warwick Handicap Cedric the Saxon Won 12 to 1
Warwick Grand Annual Snowstorm Won 7 to 1
Northamptonshire Stakes Messager Won 8 to 1
City and Suburban Digby Grand Won 25 to 1

Thus a £10 stake on each of our selections already made this season
has now won the handsome sum £1,164 after deducting our commission of
5 per cent.

If one statement of the above glorious triumph is untrue, we boldly
invite our subscribers and clients to expose us in the fullest manner
in the sporting papers. Promptitude, despatch, exactitude, and
liberality, as in the past, will ever be our watchwords in the future.

Every reader of “The Sporting Life” is earnestly invited to send at
once for this week’s number, as the information therein contained will
enable everyone to win a little fortune over that splendid and highly
lucrative mode of investment--

A DOUBLE EVENT
That cannot be upset.
The positive Winners of
THE TWO THOUSAND
and
ONE THOUSAND GUINEAS.

It is rarely that we advise this method of investing, but when we have
sent out to our clients a double event it has never failed to come
off. Last year we advised a double event for these races--

Two Thousand Bothwell Won
One Thousand Hannah Won

And this year both our selections are, if possible, greater and more
undeniable certainties.

THE TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS.

Of all the good things that in the course of a long and varied
experience on the Turf it has ever been our good fortune to be
possessed of, we cannot recall a single occasion on which every
attendant circumstance combined so surely to render, as in the present
instance, the race such an absolute foregone conclusion for our
selection. The trial which took place this week was unprecedented in
its severity, and, to the surprise of owner and trainer, the animal
performed so far beyond their most sanguine expectations or hopes as
to show them that success is reduced to the greatest moral certainty
ever known in the history of the English Turf. This is an opportunity
similar to those that have made the fortunes of many of our most
wealthy speculators, for whom, as in the present instance, victory is
a foregone conclusion and defeat a moral impossibility. Everyone
should seize the opportunity of reaping the rich harvest of golden
fruit that awaits the bold speculator of foregone conclusions like
this.

THE ONE THOUSAND GUINEAS.

It is to us an easy task to select the winner of this race, as the
immense superiority she enjoys over every other animal engaged (known
only to owner, trainer, and ourselves) is so vast that this race will
be little more than an exercise canter for this speedy filly. So
quietly has this good thing been nursed by the shrewd division to
which the mare belongs, that a real good price is now to be had,
though when this superb specimen of an English thoroughbred is seen at
the post, we are confident that even money will be eagerly snapped up
by those who till then neglect to back her.

THE DOUBLE EVENT,

as stated above, is as sure to come off as these lines are in print.
Send then at once for this week’s number, and do not delay an hour if
you wish to land a fortune over these two genuine certainties.

We could wish no better opportunity to display the genuine good things
sent out by the “Premier Racing Circular” than these two races
present, and we beg that everyone will at once send six stamps and
stamped addressed envelope for this week’s number, and stand these
morals to win them a fortune.

Address--

JAMES RAWLINGS and Co.,
65, YORK PLACE,
EDINBURGH.

If we were not certain that these men got large sums of money from willing victims, it would seem almost impossible that people could be found credulous enough to believe that absolute certainty could be secured on the turf. Certainty of losing is naturally much easier than certainty of winning, and yet even loss cannot be reduced to less than imminent probability so long as a horse goes to the post unphysicked, and the jockey is not allowed to openly pull him. And so, though no one will attempt to defend Messrs Rawlings & Co., their dupes deserve but the smallest amount of pity; for even the most foolish of them must have known that certainty of winning to them must have meant certainty of losing to the other side, and that therefore, even if the contract had been carried out, somebody must have been swindled. If it were not for the greed and avarice which mainly direct the actions of those who are generally known as fools, magsmen, sharpers, discretionary-investment commissioners, and voucher-forcers would have to take to honest employment. This may seem a truism, yet when a skittle-sharper or “street-mugger” is tried in a police court, and convicted for having victimised a “flat,” it never seems to strike the magistrate or the general public that the prisoner simply swindled a man who had all the will but not the ability to swindle him. And there can be no reasonable doubt--we should much like to see the matter tried--that the principal supports of rogues are the most grasping, selfish, and hard-hearted of mortals, and not at all the soft, good-natured bumpkins that they are generally depicted. We should not like to trust to either the honour or the honesty of any man who had been concerned even as a victim in one of the transactions which now and again appear in the police reports; and if we had any sympathy, which is not very likely, to bestow on either side, it would certainly be given to the man who gets sent to prison.

Rawlings & Co. seem to have managed the spring campaign of 1872 very successfully, for while other members of the same brotherhood had to drop out of the papers or to appear in new guise after April, we find our heroes still merrily addressing the public from the front page of the sporting papers of June 8, and as able to guarantee freedom from loss as ever. And though it may not seem long from the end to April to this early part of June, it must be recollected that within that space several very important meetings are held, and that dismal gaps are found in the ranks of both “wrong” and “right” men after a Derby, especially after such a Derby as Cremorne’s, which found out the weak spots in a good many big books, and altered the prospects of many a turfite, professional and amateur. So finding Rawlings so well through, we were tempted at the time to communicate with him, and discover the principle upon which he “forced the voucher.” Here is his advertisement of June 8, in which he glories in past triumphs and feels confident of future successes:--

CREMORNE, QUEEN’S MESSENGER, AND REINE.

JAMES RAWLINGS and Co., the oldest established Turf advisers in Great
Britain; proprietors of

THE PREMIER RACING CIRCULAR,

the most successful winning guide extant.

* * * * *

THE PREMIER RACING CIRCULAR, selected Cremorne
and Reine.

* * * * *

THE PREMIER RACING CIRCULAR of this day contains
three certainties.

* * * * *

THE PREMIER RACING CIRCULAR’S selections pulled off the double event
for the Derby and Oaks, likewise Queen’s Messenger for a place at 4 to
1.

* * * * *

THE PREMIER RACING CIRCULAR has this season selected each and every
important winner, as may be seen by referring to back numbers of this
publication, invaluable alike to large and small speculators. The
proprietors beg respectfully to draw the attention of that section of
the public who have neglected to take advantage of the opportunities
that they have, for the past three months, weekly drawn attention to
in the columns of this and other journals, that this week’s number of
the Premier Racing Circular will contain three of the greatest morals
and most undeniable certainties ever known in this or any other era of
the Turf’s history, namely, the winner of

THE ASCOT STAKES,

a real good thing, at a real good price. Over this race any gentleman
may safely invest as heavily as he may think fit, as we know that our
selection cannot be beaten; the course is peculiarly adapted to the
animal’s action, and the stable have satisfied themselves, past
question or doubt, that he possesses both speed and stamina to land
this event with the utmost ease.

THE ROYAL HUNT CUP

is equally a certainty for a veritable flyer, whose merits have
hitherto been so cleverly concealed by the owner, that the handicapper
has no idea of his sterling excellence. He is undergoing a special
preparation for this race, the best light-weight in the world will be
in the saddle, and a long price is now to be had.

THE NORTHUMBERLAND PLATE.

We have never yet missed selecting the winner of this race, and as the
cleverest division on the Turf, as to whose movements we are always au
fait, have specially laid themselves out to secure this prize, the
public may rely upon it that, as in past years, we shall again select
the winner.

This week’s number contains full particulars of these undeniable and
gold-producing morals, in addition to a mass of other information
invaluable to backers. No one should invest a shilling on any one of
the above races without first forwarding us six stamps and stamped
directed envelope for this week’s issue.

Address--

JAMES RAWLINGS and Co.,
65, YORK PLACE,
EDINBURGH.

Six stamps and a stamped directed envelope were accordingly sent, and in return we received a copy of the _Premier Racing Circular_, dated June 6, which was full of congratulations, and which promised far more than even the advertisements did. One paragraph in it was specially worthy of attention. It ran thus: “_We have several commissions still unsettled over the Derby and Oaks. Gentlemen holding winning vouchers will please send them in at once._” What could be more fair, honourable, and straightforward than this; and who would think of suspecting Rawlings of unfair dealing? Yet, at the very time the invitation we have quoted appeared, the people who sent in their winning vouchers received in return, not money, but the following circular, which we reprint exactly, and which, with the alteration of the signature and the name of the meeting, will do for any firm and any week’s racing the reader may choose. This is one of a lot we have collected at times from many victims:--

65 YORK PLACE, EDINBURGH.

SIR,

We regret to inform you that, in consequence of some of our important
Accounts not having been settled at Epsom this week, we must
unavoidably postpone the settlement. This is the first time that such
an unpleasantness has occurred, but we can assure you that we have
done all in our power in the matter. No one regrets this unfortunate
affair more than ourselves, after serving the public so faithfully for
such a number of years, and all we can do is to remit you immediately
we receive winnings from the temporarily embarrassed Commissioners.

Meanwhile, We remain,

Yours faithfully,

JAMES RAWLINGS & CO.

There is no boast in the statement, that when we received the _Premier Racing Circular_, we were pretty well acquainted with the manner in which Rawlings conducted his business--it would be a poor thing to boast about--and so we turned to the envelope to look for the vouchers we knew would be there. And there they were, enclosed in a piece of paper, on which was the information, that owing to the large sums they had invested when the horses were at long shots, they could afford to return odds considerably over the current market; and winding up with a request that intending backers would at once forward the amounts for which the vouchers were filled in, or any part of it which would suit them. Yes, there they were, three in number, looking like cheques--the first, No. 32,323, being for the Ascot Stakes, and bearing the bet of £200 to £10 against Palmerston for the Ascot Stakes. The second was numbered 36,162, and said £300 to £10 Pitchfork for the Royal Hunt Cup; and the third was 39,346, and was to the tune of £400 to £20 Minerve for the Northumberland Plate. And this is the advice with regard to them, given in the _Circular_, without the alteration of even a letter:--

_THE PITCHFORK, PALMERSTON, AND MINERVE
COMMISSION_

We have been able to work the Commission (Pitchfork, Palmerston, and
Minerve), at an unusual liberal price, and we herewith offer for your
acceptance, as per enclosed vouchers, the very advantageous bets about
these absolute morals. Should you accept the whole (which we strongly
recommend), you will please forward stake money by return and retain
vouchers; if only a portion, return same, with stake money, and a
corrected voucher to amount of stake will be at once forwarded to you.
In the remote contingency of your not accepting any portion of either
bet, you will please return vouchers without a moment’s delay, that we
may have an opportunity of offering the bets to other clients.

Those who wish to back Pitchfork, Palmerston, and Minerve for a place,
can be on at one-fourth the odds, but to no greater amount than a £50
stake.

The secret of forcing the voucher, therefore, lay in the fact of offering far longer prices than could be obtained of any one who intended to pay when the races were over; for on June 6th, 1872, the day on which the vouchers were drawn, the market prices, as quoted in the papers Mr Rawlings advertised in, were 10 to 1 against Palmerston for the Ascot Stakes; 15 to 1 against Pitchfork for the Royal Hunt Cup; and 10 to 1 against Minerve for the Northumberland Plate. Now as double the fair price is offered, and as the quoted market represents the odds which are laid at the chief clubs by the chief men, who can say that the victims of Rawlings deserve pity? The ability of Rawlings & Co. as tipsters is strangely shown in this transaction. In their circular, Pitchfork, Palmerston, and Minerve are their selections for the several races, even to people who only accepted their advice and did not intrust them with commissions. They assert that they have positive information that these horses cannot lose. Under the head of “Royal Hunt Cup,” and perfectly independent of anything but the private-advice department, they say, in reference to Pitchfork: “This is a ‘Woodyeates moral,’ and all must be on. Every now and then this influential coterie throws in for a fortune, and when they do, the good thing invariably comes off. We have never missed the winner of this race, and now, with all confidence, we assure every client that no better opportunity could possibly occur of landing a rich and substantial stake. Some of our clients will neglect the opportunities we frequently lay before them; but on this occasion as the price is so liberal, we do heartily hope that one and all will go in for a rattling good stake.” Then about Palmerston for the Ascot Stakes, they tell us that “previous to the great Epsom event, Palmerston performed such a wonderful feat with the Brother to Flurry as to show the stable that the Ascot Stakes were completely at their mercy. Mr Payne and the owners who train at Fyfield look upon defeat as impossible, and will stand their horses to win a very large stake. We cannot recollect a more genuine investment, and must urge all to stand this moral freely.” For the Northumberland Plate they are, if anything, still more confident, their article on it containing this: “Another triumph awaits the French contingent in the Northumberland Plate, as Minerve, own sister to Miss Hervine, is certain to carry off this event.” Rawlings’s prophecies might have turned out right if they had had a chance, but he does not seem to have possessed even a hint as to what would be started for the various stables, for not one of the three selected ever saw the course on which victory was to be so easily obtained. What sorry rogues make fortunes nowadays! It is more than likely that Rawlings, or whatever this trickster’s name was, like his own selections on this particular occasion, had never seen a race-course. Strange as this may seem, it is not at all improbable; for there are lots of men who live by the turf, and who are as conversant with pedigrees and performances of horses as can be, yet who know nothing beyond what they see on paper, and who, authorities on racing when in Fleet Street, would be quite nonplussed if taken to Newmarket among the horses whose names they know so well.

We trust we have now made plain the two greatest swindles in connection with the turf, and at the same time shown the unworthiness of even the pretence to knowledge made by them. But we have no wish that readers, forgetting the scamps with whom we set out, shall conclude this chapter with the impression that there are no thieves so bad as sporting thieves, and so we will fall back on some swindling advertisements of the general kind, from the general papers, which are not only as roguish, but as ignorant of the subjects selected as the effusions of Rawlings himself. Here is one from the _Weekly Times_ of a couple of years or so back:--

WONDERS OF THE HOROSCOPE.--Any person sending an addressed envelope,
age, height, colour of hair and eyes, together with 13 stamps, will
receive within 24 hours a correct likeness of their future husband or
wife, and date of marriage.--Address, A. WEMYSS, 2, Drake-street, Red
Lion-square, London.

We don’t mind giving Mr Wemyss--what an aristocratic name, by the way!--a gratuitous advertisement, though we hope that the first customer he gets through our instrumentality will be the reverse of profitable. Wemyss can do better still at a better price, as other advertisements show. He is a milder form of rascal than Methralton, who makes offer as follows in several of the weekly papers, and who is not content with his effect on the mind, but actually wishes to interfere with the matter:--

WONDROUS ARTS.--Your future revealed--Seven years, six stamps;
lifetime twelve stamps. State age. Love Charm, sixteen stamps.
Medicine for removing Gravel and Private diseases in a few days,
without injuring the constitution, sixty stamps. Methralton’s Bible
Key, twenty-six stamps. Book of Spirits, 408 pages, thirty-two stamps.
Millennial Prophecies, Gratis. METHRALTON, the Seer, Daventry.