The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-09 00:00:00

HORSE FAIR TRICK.

It is seldom that our great January horse fair passes
without the knowing ones getting the better of some
simple, honest visitor, and this year has been no exception
to ;the rule.l lOn Tuesday last, a well-to-do person from.
East Lancashire came to Preston to transact some business,
and knowing but little of the town, and still less of our
horse fair, after the conclusion of his business he sauntered
out into, the streets to pass an hour or two before train
time, just to see the town and its doings. Taking his
stand on the footpath in Church-street, near our Town-
hail, which at the time was thronged by horses, horse
dealers, &c., he was regarding, apparently with much in-
terest, the busy scene. A stranger accosted him, inquiring
if he were in the horse trade. lie answered in the nega-
tive, and his interrogator being a civil sort of a person,
the conversation was continued. They talked "of
this, and that, and then of t'other," until our East
Lancashire friend was invited by his new acquaintance to
take a "New Year's glass." He accepted the offer, and
the pair went to a neighbouring public-house. Our hero
had, for a time, some misgivings as to the prudence of this
step, and watched narrowly the serving of the glasses of
rum, which his new and hospitable friend ordered and paid
for, for he had heard of people being drugged and then
robbed at fairs, and he bethought him of the cash he had
about him. These suspicions were of the most transitory
character ; there was no attempt to " doctor" the liquor
and the stranger's blandness and courtesy forbade him
doubting his honesty or propriety. Presently a third per-
son came in, a stranger to our East Lancashire friend,
and apparently to the other person. He joined them,
however, and soon began to talf of himself, how• he
had come to Preston to draw a large fortune that had
been unexpectedly left to him, and showed an open
knitted purse full of sovereigns, or what appeared to
be sovereigns, in proof of his assertion. He was a stranger
in the town, he said, and knew nothing about Preston ; he
proposed that they should all three have a walk to see the
"lions" of Preston. After a short stroll they came to an-

other inn, where, of course, glasses were ordered, when the
heir of so much wealth pulled out three purses, which he
said he had bought of an old blind woman for a shilling
each—more certainly than they were worth, but he had
bought them more as an act of charity than anything else,
for, of course, a wealthy legatee would not bargain with a
poor blind body about the price of her wares. On this
stranger No. 1 begged one of the purses, as three purses
could be of no use to even a wealthy man ; and with an air
of great generosity the owner handed to him a purse, put-
ting in it at the same time a sovereign to mend the gift.

The recipient thereupon suggested that their companion
our hind from East Lancashire—should also be presented
with a purse, to which the " rich man" assented, so he was
presented with one, the gift being accompanied by a sug-
gestion that the purse should be at once "lined." Our hero
brought out some silver, and was about to place it in the
purse, when the giver said a new purse deserved a better
lining than silver, and, taking hold of it, put in apparently
a sovereign. The gift of gold pleased our friend, who then
took out two 101. notes and placed them in the purse, re-
marking at the time how much he had put in. " Begging
your pardon," said thelegatee, "I think there is only one
note in." " Oh, but there are two," was the response, hand-
ing over the purse to the doubter for his examination; he,
with a laughing acknowledgment of his mistake, returned a
purse—the purse, our hero thought—which he placed in
his pocket. The conversation then changed—the heir of
unexpected wealth talked of going to Blackpool, and the
three arranged to ga together, the gentleman from East
Lancashire promising to find good lodgings for them, and
they set off for the station. The legatee suggested that they
should buy a pound of tea to take with them, as they could
get better, he thought, in Preston than at Blackpool, and
handed over 4s. to our East Lancashire friend to buy the
congou, but as he was going into a shop for it, where there
was not much business going on, the treater suggested that
a larger shop would have a better article, so the trio went
to another establishment where there were more customers,
and where, of course, the purchaser would be longer de-
tained, and two of the party stood outside while the gentle-
man went to buy the tea. He got the tea and came out,
but he could not then see his new friends anywhere ; he
thought that they had perhaps walked leisurely to the
station, and went thither, but they were not there, so
coming up-street he pulled out his purse to see if his money
was all right, for by this time misgivings about his friends
had returned. He then found inside the purse two pieces
of an old newspaper and a counterfeit sovereign. As our
readers will have seen, one of the swindlers, for such they
were, had, by a feat of legerdemain, changed the purse
when it was handed to him to see if the two notes were in-
side. He gave information at the police station of the trick
that had been played on him, but the constabulary were
unable to assist him, for the men were off, and the victim
had to return to East Lancashire a sadder and a poorer,
but no doubt a wiser man.--Preston Chronicle.

The Holborn Union.

POOR-LAW BOARD INQUIRY.

An inquiry was opened on Saturday morning by Mr.
Farnall, the metropolitan inspector of the Poor-law Board,
in the board-room of the Holborn Union, relative to the
death of Timothy Daly, who died, it was alleged, from the
neglect of the medical officer of the union.
Mr. Wontner appeared for Mr. Norton, the surgeon to
the union ; and Mr. Lewis, jun., of the firm of Lewis and
Lewis, of Ely-place, appeared for Mrs. Daly, instructed by
a committee of gentlemen who are watching the case.
There was a large attendance of the members of the Board
of Guardians.

Mr. Henderson, the relieving officer, gave formal evi-
dence of Daly's admission. .
Mr. Thomas Arthur Lothbury said he had been assistant
to Mr. Cuffe, the out-door medical officer of the union, and
received an order on the 28tkof October to-visit Daly, and
within one hour afterwards he saw him. Daly was very
weak, and in a miserable condition, and had no one to at-
tend upon him. The bed was dirty and wet, the witness
thanght by his appearance that he had been suffering at
least three days from rheumatic fever. The deceased was a
man of large frame, but emaciated. He appeared to require
the common necessaries of life, in the shape of food and
nutriment. He ordered him beef-tea, milk, and gruel.
Daly seemed to have an objection to having food from the
workhouse, and said if the witness would order it he would
have it from the City. On the 29th he saw him twice, and
gave an order for his admission into the workhouse. The
landlady came to the surgery, and he gave the order, as the
landlady said she could not nurse him.
By Mr. Lewis—Daly was very liable in his condition to
bed-sores, and ho should have been examined when he came
in for them, and also once in three weeks. It was impos-
sible in somo instances to prevent them with every care and
every luxury. The witness then went on to state what
treatment he would give a patient afflicted with bed-sores.

Mr. William Francis, the master of the union, produced
the books, showing the admission of Daly into the house.
He could walk very little, and was helped upstairs, where
he was put to bed and had some tea. The next day he
was put on mutton diet and half a pint of beer. On the
30th the doctor saw him and ordered that diet. It con-
sisted of soz. of cooked meat, alb. of potatoes, and half a
pint of beer. For breakfast and supper he bad 7oz. of bread
with butter and a pint of tea. The day after the doctor saw
him beef tea was given to him instead of mutton, and wine
was ;substituted for the beer. He had 2oz. of wine per
day, that would be nearly a wine glassful. This went on
for two days, and then he returned to the mutton dinner as
before, and 3oz. of wine, in addition to the beer. He had
also a pint of milk. On Nov. 3 the 3 oz. of wino was in-
creased to 40z., the beer still remaining. That went on for
a week, when the wine was reduced to 20z., the beer was
taken off. and milk remained. The next week it was altered
to five days' meat, two days' beef tea, and the beer increased
to a pint and a half. The next week the wine was increased
to three ounces, and continued so until he went out. The
doctor ordered the diet for patients, and there was no limit
to his authority. The guardians never disapproved of his
orders. The average cost of patients in the infirmary was
about Gs. oil per week each. The cost of necessaries would
be about is. 9i-d. per week. Mrs. Daly took the deceased
out of the house, and expressed to him her thanks for the
kindness her husband had received.
Dr. Carr, of Blackheath, in reply to Mr. Farnall, said he
had not seen the deceased, but he found by the evidence
that he had had meat, beef tea, beer, and wine, and that he
considered wa s sufficient to sustain a man in Daly's con-
dition.

After some further evidence the inquiry was adjourned,

,SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,

.--

MANCHESTER STEEPLECHASE, FLAT, AND
HURDLE RACES.-SATURDAY.

After one postponement, from Monday last, the Steeple--
chase, Flat, and Hurdle Race Meeting of Old Trafford took
place on Saturday. The attendance was large, but not so
numerous as it would have been had the sport been carried
out on the originally fixed. Nearly all the Manchester
betting men were present, and many bookmakers from
Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham,andeven more anthem towns
patronised the gathering, but there were few of the Metro-
politan division amongst the company. The four events
comprising the day's programme brought our large fields of
horses, and though there was, comparatively speaking, an
evident preponderance of bookmakers over backers, specu-
lation upon each event continued active from the hoisting
of the numbers to the dropping of the flags. Up to Friday
night upwards of 30 horses had arrived to fulfil their en-
gagements, some of whom had been in Manchester a week.
A death in the family of Capt. Tempest prevented that gen-
tleman from riding or running his-horses, and oue or two
animals which were sent to contend on Monday, when the
frost put a stop to the proceedings, returned home without
participating in the sport. The weather, which for the pre-
vious three days had been wet and windy, was fine on Sa-
turday, but the course was very heavy, the approaches
thereto being a perfect quagmire. The racing commenced
at a quarter past 1 with the Hurdle Race, for which 10 of
the 22 upon the card went to the post, the result being in

favour of True Heart, one of the second favourites. The
City Steeplechase had nine runners, three of :whom were
hors de combat in the first half mile. A pretty race ensued be-
tween Crusade and the favourite—The Screw—the latter of
whom being ridden by much the superior horseman, won
easily, though there is no doubt he would have found a for-
midable opponent in King of Hearts, had not the latter re-
fused about a quarter of a mile from home. The Trial Handi-
cap produced 12 runners, and was won by Ross, not backed
for a shilling by the stable, and the Selling was also won by
a Hednesford-trained horse—Jewel—so that the whole of

the four races were secured by Ilednesford trainers. The
following are details of the sport :

A Handicap Hurdle Race of 5 sovs each, 1 ft, with 25
added ; the winner of any hurdle race or steeplechase
after December 15 to carry 71b extra. About two miles
over 8 flights of hurdles.
Mr. T. Hunt's True Heart, by Mountain Deer—Truth,
5 yrs, 9st 111 b (car. 9st 121 b) ' (J. Knott) 1
Mr. Cunningham's The Beau, 5 yrs, 9st (G. Waddington) 2
Mr. T. Smith's Garibaldi, 6 yrs, 9st 61b (T. Barlow 3
Mr. S. Harvey's Stanton, aged, 10st 81b (c. Boyce 4
Game Cock, Sledmere Pony, Bass Rock, Vision, Cargo,
and Knave of Trumps also ran.
Betting-3 to 1 agst The Beau-4 to 1 each agst Stanton
and True Heart-7 to 1 agst Vision-10 to 1 offered agst
any other.
After one failure they were started well together, Stan-

ton jumping off in front, but opposite the stand Cargo and
Vision rushed past the old horse, and Vision quickly assumed
a lead of half a dozen lengths, being followed by Garibaldi,
Stanton, True Heart, and The Beau, who ran in Indian file
round the turn beyond the stand. At the head of the next
lot came Knave of Trumps, the rear being whipped in by

Gamecock. Excepting that The Beau become fourth, and
True Heart dropped behind Knave of Trumps, there was
no alteration for nearly a mile. Upon arriving at the stand
the second time Vision held a lead of two or three lengths
of Stanton, The Beau, Knave of Trumps, Garibaldi, and
Cargo, all of whom charged the hurdles in front of the
judge's box simultaneously, but soon afterwards Cargo and
Bass Rock were tailed off, and Gamecock drew towards the
leaders. About half a mile from home Vision and Stanton
were beaten, whereupon The Beau and Garibaldi went on
with the running ; but in a quarter of a mile further True
Heart showed to advantage, and with The Beau at his
girths came into the straight in front. Next these two fol-
lowed Garibaldi and Stanton, but neither could get nearer
The Beau and True. Heart, the latter of whom, increasing
his advantages from the last flight of hurdles, won easily
by six lengths. Three lengths separated the second and
third, and a similar distance divided the third and fourth.
Gamecock was fifth, close up with Stanton ; Knave of
Trumps sixth ; Vision next, pulling up before reaching the
winning post, and the rest beaten off.
The City Steeplechase (Handicap) of 5 sovs each, 1 ft,
with 501. added; winners extra, About three miles and
a half.
Mr. Backhouse's The Screw, aged, 10st 61b ..,(J. Knott) 1
Mr. Selborne's Crusade, 6 yrs, list (Tones) 2
Mr. Peace names Lightheart, aged, list 101 b
(Mr. M. Blake) 3
Mr. E. Studd's The Dwarf, aged list (Igoe) 4

The following also ran :—West End, Fly-by-Night
(h b), King of Hearts, Jack (h b), and Philospher.
Betting-2 to 1 agst The Screw, 4to 1 agst Philosopher,
5 to 1 agst King of Hearts, 7 to 1 each agst Fly-by-Night
and West End, 10 to 1 agst Crusade.
The Screw mado play, and West End falling at the brook,
and Philosopher at the bank beyond the water jump—both
being dut of the issue in the first half mile—Crusade and
Jack were the favourite's companions, Lightheart following
fourth, the Dwarf fifth, King of Hearts sixth, and Fly-by-
Night, who had refused in the line, bringing up the rear.
The Screw and Crusade alternately held the lead till within
half a mile from home, when King of Hearts took up the
running, but refusing at the fence behind the cricket ground,
where he stopped, The Screw and Crusade again appeared
in front, and the Screw's jockey completely outriding the
horseman upon Crusade, won by a length ; Lightheart was
third, beaten off; and The Dwarf trotted in fourth. No-

thing else passed the post.
The Trial Handicap of 3 sovs each, 1 ft., with 20 sovs
added, for all ages ; winners extra. About one mile on
the flat. '-
Mr. Cliff's Rosa, 6 yrs, Bst 101 b
Mr. Scott's Nu, 3 yrs, 7st (Carroll) 2
Mr. Coney's Sister Mary, 3 yrs, 6St 41b ((.1. Page) 3
The following also ran :—Peru, Buckmaster, Vision,
Terror, Nelly, Moor Game, Crazy Jane, Hecate, and Bel-

grave.
Betting-3 to 1 agst Hecate, 4to 1 agst Nu, 6to 1 agst
Peru, 7 to 1 agst Sister Mary, 10 to 1 each agst Belgrave
and Ross, both of whom opened at 4 to 1.
Peru andgerror made play to the Stand, followed close*
by Belgrave and Hecate for a quarter of a mile, when
Terror took:a clearlead, and Peru being " eased" on the far
side, Belgrave became second ; Ross and Sister Mary next ;
with Peru, Hecate, and Nu next. Half a mile from home
Ross took up the running, and a quarter of a mile from:the
finish Nu drew up, but never reaching Ross, was beaten
easily by a length. Half a length separated the second and
third ; Vision was a bad fourth ; Peru fifth ; Terror sixth ;
and Belgrave, Hecate, and Buckmaster were next beaten
off, and Moor Game was the last of those who passed the
post.
A Selling Stakes of 3 sous each, with 20 added, for three-
yr-olds and upwards ; selling allowances. Half a mile
on the flat..
Mr. J. Wright's Jewel, (201.), Oat 61b (H. Taylor) 1
Mr. W. Andeq's Le Mexicain, 3 yrs (101.) Bst 21b

(Payne) 2
Mr. Coney's Lady Overtown, 3 yrs (201)., Bst 31b
(J. Wormald) 3
Mr. Clark's Cargo, 5 yrs (201.), lOst 11b' (T. Merone) 4
Betting-6 to 5 agst Jewel, 6to 4 agst Lo Mexicain, 4
to 1 agst Lady Overtown.
Le Mexicain made play to the distance, where Jewel
took up the running, and won easily by two lengths—a
length separated the second and third ; Cargo was close up.
The winner was bought by Mr. Jefferys for 32 guineas.
A Hurdle Sweepstakes of 10 sovs each, 3 ft ; list each.
About twoWles.
•
Did not produce a race.