The Express.
London, England, 1846-12-09 00:00:00

that they had established themselves as habitual gamblers,
and they felt it their duty, as public journalists, to expose
their conduct in the newspaper under their direction. In
doing this they had conferred an obligation on the column-
nity, and it was not fair to charge them with having been so-
fluenoed by personal motives, with a view to increase the
circulation of the paper. His learned friend bad not given
one single ray of light in reference to the past conductor the
plaintiff, and it would bo his painful duty to draw aside the
curtain which had been allowed to shroud and screen bis
past history. He should prove that Dr. Holdsworth had
formerly resided at Biladen, in the neighbourhood of Lei-
cester, and that he quitted that place in the year 1839,
leaving his debts unpaid. He afterwards went to Tours in
France, where he arrived in the autumn of 1840, and where
he became acquainted with a person named Conaty,
who was discovered in a gambling affair of the greatest
infamy, and being tried and convicted before the
court of assize at Tours, was sentenced to two years' im-
prisonment. An appeal was afterwards made to a higher
court at Blois, but the decision of the court at Tours was
affirmed. Ultimately Conaty appealed to the Court de Cane
nation at Paris, where the judgment was set aside on a point
of law, and the case was ordered to be tried again in the
Royal Court at Orleans, when Conaty was discharged. Dr.
Holdeworth and )'Donald, it would appear, attended at
the trial to give him a good character. It would also be
proved that shortly after this affair the plaintiff and Mr.
M'Donald left Tours, and in the autumn of 1843 they
went to Guernsey, where they got introduced to the Civil
and United Service Club. They there carried on the mus-
ters of gamblers, continuing to play as often as possible,
until at length an e.rposi took place, and they were com-
pelled to leave Guernsey. They next took up their abode in
Plymouth, where they arrived in the spring of 1845, and
where they became connected with the Royal Western Club,
of which they were elected members in July, 1845. Circuits.-
stances showing tbo course of life which the plaintiff
and Mr. M'Donald had pursued, came to the knowledge
of the club. and they were both expelled in the
month of February, 1846. These facts came to the
knowledge of the proprietors of the Plymouth Journal, and
in order that the community of Plymouth might be made
aware of the class of people they were liable to meet in
society, the defendants had felt it their duty to expose those
who had been guilty of such disreputable transactions, as
would be detailed in evidence. The learned counsel having
concluded a very long and eloquent speech, the court ad-
journed at six o'clock, until the next day. This morning
the ease was resumed, and the following witnesses were called
Major Ford stated that he was in Plymouth in the year
1845, and was then a temporary member of the Royal Wester&
Yacht Club. He recollected being invited to sup with Mr.
M'Donald and Dr. Holdsworth. The supper was excellent.,
and they played at cards before and after. The stakes were
increased after the supper. Holdsworth always bet on
M'Donald, who played with witness, and M'Donald won
everything. He observed that Holdsworth moved about tho
room a good deal, but be generally stood behind witness's
back, and could see what cards he had in his hand. They
played at icarti, at which game there were five
points. The king was a very important card at
that game. The kings were invariably against him
(witness) on this occasion, and at length he remarked that he
never saw any person with such luck before in turning up
the kings. 1,0751. was the whole amount of his loss to Dr.
Holdsworth and Mr. M'Donald. He paid the money by a
cheque shortly afterwards.
In cross-examination, the witness said he wee 36 years of
age, and that he had never play( d for large stakes previous
Ito that occasion. 1001. was the largest sum he had ever lost
at cards before that time.
Mr. Walter Lomax, secretary to the Royal Western Yacht
Club.—There are 312 members at the present time. The
members comprised a great number of noblemen and gentle-
men. In 1845 he saw Dr. Holdsworth and Mr. M`Donald at
Plymouth. Dr. lloldsworth was introduced as a visitor on
the 10th June. 1845, by Mr. Ayre, and " 'f ours" was given
as his place of abode. On the 25th June, Mr. M•Donaid,
"of France," was introduced by Captain Atkinson. The
were afterwards elected members of the club. On the lith
July, the election took place. Notice papers had been pre-
viously given by Dr. Holdsworth and Mr. M'Donald. In
those papen Dr. H oldsworth's address was given ns" Whitehall,
Leicestershire," and Mr. M'Donald's, as " Stonehouse." In
the early part of the year 1846, he heard that there witesome-
thing connected with those persons which the club wished to
investigate. A letter was accordingly written to Guernsey,
and in consequence of the answer received by him he wrote
to Dr. Holdsworth on the 27th January, 1846, suggesting to
him the propriety of his withdrawing his name from the club,
as certain information had been received reflecting upon his
conduct during his residence in Plymouth. To this commu-
nication Dr. liohleworth replied by letter, stating that he
would defy any one to substantiate any charge derogatory to
his character us a g. ntleinan and a man of honour, and beg-
ging that the club would specify what they had heard respeet-
ing him. Notice wan, afterwards, given of a general meeting,
which took place on the sth July. There were upwards of
90 members present. Mr. Hawker was in the chair. The
letters were laid before the meeting. Neither Dr. llohlsworth
nor Mr. M'Donald appeared.—Mr. Beer was pmeent that
day on their behalf as an attorney, though a member of the
club. It WY resolved that he should not be heard as their
legal adviser, but that Dr. Holdsworth and Mr. M'Donald
should be allowed to attend personally to give such explana-
tion as they might think proper. The club waited morethan
an hour. The letter from Guernsey, dated January 31,1846,
was laid before the club. (The letter was read, and it spoke
of Dr. Wadsworth and Mr. M'Donald as " two blacklegs.")
Another letter from Guernsey dated 2nd February, was pro-
duced, and it contained certain observations respecting Dr.
H. and Mr. M., whom the writer spoke of 84 " these two
bucks," and he expressed his surprise that such " fellows "
should have been recommended to the Club. The result
of the ballot was, that Dr. H. had two white bells, and against
him 50 black balls. Mr. M.l white ball, and against him 51
blink balls. Itwas accordingly resolved that they were no
longer members of the club. Witness was not aware that they
had taken any proceedings in consequence of this resolution..
In cross-examination the witness stated that he allowed a
friend of his (Mr. Latimer), the editor of the paper, to take
copies of the letters.
The learned judge here cautioned the witness that he was
at liberty to decline answering any questions the answers to
which might be libellous.
The witness went on to say that he had recently had a full
from his horse, which had much affected his memory. He
learned that Mr. Latimer had taken a copy of the letter
characterieing the plaintiff and M'Donald as 1)1 icklegs. He
believed he objected to Mr. Latimer having a copy. Sometime
afterwards a geatleman came into the room, and while he
was conversing with him, Mr. Latimer remained in the room.
The letter was on the table at the time, and he afterwards
discovered that he had a copy of it. He might have said
words to the effect that he mustn't printt eat—alit would be
libellous. To this Mr. Latimerreplied, " Oh, nonsense, you'll
hear nothing more of these blacklegs—and it will be as good
as a thousand pounds to our paper.'
Re-examined.—lle allowed Mr. Latimer to see the letters.
It was on the day that the paper was printed that he told
Mr. Latimer he must not print the letter. Mr. Latimer
was in the habit of coming to the club for information.—
Mr. J. W. Peep!, a barrister on the Western Circuit, and
eulecharroan of the committee of management of the Reyal
Western Yacht Cluh, said he put a black hall on the occa-
sion of the ballot. Before the business of the meeting com-
menced, Mr. Bier, solicitor, said he attended professionally
on behalf of Dr. Holdsworth and Mr. Sl'Donald, hut the
meeting refused to hear him except as a member. A letter
from Dr. Holdeworth was thereupon read as his defence.
Mr. Earnest John Craigie, a member of the club, said he
remembered the 9th July, 1845. Captain Ford and the
plaintiff were present at the club that evening, and also Mr.
M'Donald, and Mr. Ayre. They left the club about half-
past twelve o'clock, when Dr. Wadsworth proposed that
they should go home to sup at Mr. M•Donald'e, Dr. Holds-
worth, Captain Ford, Mr. Ayre, and himself, were of din
party. There was a very nice supper, and plenty of cham-
pagne ; cards were introduced; and whilst they were play-
ing he laid upon the sofa, and, after making certain bets
upon the game, ,he told one of the party to let him know
how much be had won or lost, and then he fell asleep.
(Laughter.) Before he fell asleep he saw Capt. Font playing
with Mr. M'Donald. Dr. Holdsworth walked about the room.
Witness backed Captain Ford. and when he awoke he found
he had Iced 20/, He was told so by Dr. Holdsworth or by
M'Donald. He afterwards paid the money to them. Shortly
afterwards Dr. Holdsworth, Mr. M'Donald, and others,
spent an evening at his rooms. Ecarte was then played, and
witness betted with Dr. Holdsworth and M'Donald. He
lost 1001. to Dr. Holdsworth, and 401. to M'Donald. lie
found that he lost his money more upon the turning up of
the king than upon the game itself. Dr. Holdsworth used
to say when he had four cards, What's the odds against
turning up the king ? " The king was turned up by him
four or five times out of seven. Crone-examined: Witness
was a member of no profession, and had no particular platy
of abode. It was not a fair question to inquire into his on-
Tate affairs. He had lost money by betting at races. He
once lost 1,000/. by one bet. He had occasionally woo, and
in the last year he cleared 5001 out of a wager of 1,0001.,
which he had won. lie kept a small betting book. He recol-
lected losing a sum of money to a Mr. Jarvis He paid him
1001., and left something unpaid. He had hitherto been
fond of play, but he had now left it off. He did not wish te
say where he resided at present. If he must answer the
question, he lived with his mother at 24 Edward-street,
Portman-square. All letters would find him there.
The servants had received directions to say he did
but when he was

not reside there. He did not lice there,
in town he was to be found there. When he was out of
town people knew where to find him through his agents,
Mesas. Analie and Co., Lincoln's-inn-fieldr.
He was a ward in chancery.
Eliza Thompson proved, that in May 1845, Mr. M'Donald
took apartments in her house in Stoneham for his wife and
children. Dr. Holdsworth came with them in a coach. Dr.
11. lived opposite, and took his meela at her house. Mr.
M'Donald's family remained there about a fornight, mud
then took a furnished house. A Mr. O'Brien afterwanis
took the lodgings, and Dr. Holdsworth a' well as Mr.
M'Donald constantly visited him. Mr. O'Brien once gale
an entertainment, at which Mrs. 11 ddsworth and lin.
M'Donald presided.
Mr. Anthony B-.urnier (examined through an interpreter)
was aresident at Tours in the winter of 1842. lie was as-
quaint ed with Dr. Holdsworth and Mr. M'llonald. On the
9th of December, 1842, he saw them at the Cat de k
Ville. Mr. Connaty was present with M'Donald. Cap-
tain Derondes was there. Baron Rosette and Viscount
Septeuil were also there. Captain Desondes and Ma.
Connaty played billiards together. They afterwards
played aft cards. They went into a room at the bottom of**
garden atcr the time of closing the cafe, and Mr. M'Donaid
then went out to fetch Dr. Holdsworth. There AM a polies
regulation at Tours, by which the masters of the cafes wise
obliged to close their doors between 11 and 12 o'clock. When
Mr. M•Donald returned with Dr. liold,worth, Connsty was
then playing with Desondes. Cornatv and 1/monde wad
I nuttily betted: the former backed by •Dr. Holslaworth eel
I Mr. M'Donald, the latter by the two *French olfleera. Rosette
and Septeuil. They played until dai-break. ta the emus
t •

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