The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-20 00:00:00

N OF 7HE

SUPPUESSIO.

' D EPTFO RD

BOW-STREET --THIS DAY.
For some time past the Detective Department of the
Metropolitan Police have been lately taking steps for the
suppression of this great sporting lottery, and having per-
fected their arrangements, Inspector Clarke, Sergeants
Pahner:and Sunerway, and two other officers proceeded
to Deptford and apprehended the five defendants, who
were the managers of the "Deptford Spec," and Mr.
Farrah, of the Strand, on the authority of warrants issued
by Sir Thomas Henry, the chief magistrate, and this
Morning they were placed in the dock, where they gave
their names as follows :
Alexander Leislunan, the proprietor of the "Deptford
SPee," 10, Florence-cottages, Deptford ; Alex. Walker, 12,
Florence-cottages; Charles Clayton, stationer, Clarence-
place, Deptford ; William Daniels, Plumstead-road ; Thos.
Stephen Morrs, dairyman, 25, Central-street, St. Luke's.
Mr. Poland appeared on the part of the Treasury to
prosecute, and Mr. Sergeant Sleigh defended the defen-
dants.

Mr: Poland, in stating tLe case, said the present prose-
cution was instituted under the 16th and 17th of Victoria,
end
drytilatog charge against thorn was Hies-Ally keeping and
on a lottery on horse racing. A tremendous num-
ber of books are sent to the various public-houses, where
they are sold. The name of the race is mentioned in the
tickets in each of the bcoks, the name of the:horse and the
amount of Eubscriptioa is also mentioned. He would just
take one as a specimen from "the Newmarket Handicap,"
for which 60,000 subscribers was required.
Sir T. Henry— How many ?
Idr. Poland-60,000 ; £5OO was the prize for the first
horse, £3OO for the second, £l5O for the third, £5OO to be
divided amongst the starters, £6OO amongst the
non-starters, £2OO prizes of £2 each, £3OO in prizes
of £1 each, and 500 prizes of 10s. each.
The draw takes place at a certain public-house on a given
night from two wheels-of-fortune by two boys, and as the
names are drawn they are taken down in the most busi-
nesslike manner. The drawing of these " specs," he con-
tended, were not only lotteries on horse racing but lotte-
ries in the most extended sense of the term. Saturday
nights were generally chosen for the draw, when the
labouring classes received their wages, and as it was im-
Possible that all the 60,000 subscribers could be present,
result-sheets were publisheJ, which the prisoner Farrah
sold at his shop in the Strand, and as there was a pro-
that 10 per cent. was to be deducted for ex-
Pcnses, no person except the prisoners could by any
Means tell the amount of money kept back for expenses as
the allotment of the moneys was always subject to the
number of tickets. The Newmarket Handicap was drawn
at the Bedford Arms, Holloway, and the City and Subur-
-4'l at the Union Beerhouse,'Poplar. These lotteries had
11"1 grown to an enormous extent, and it was most de-
sirable that some steps should be taken to suppress these
very objectionable speculations, and as the case would he
thought be fully made out against each prisoner, he should
call for the committal of them all for trial at the
Central Crhninal Court for misdemeanour, the punish-
ment for which was two years' imprisonment, the in-
fliction of a fine bring altogether inadequate to meet
the exigences of the case. He should have stated that
When the prisoner Leishman was apprehended at 10,
Florence Cottages, two cab loads of tickets, &c., were
found, and also £1,400 in money, the distribution for the
hNewmarket Handicap, but as 60,000 shillings amounted
ad 3,000, it was impossib:e to say how many tickets
been sold, or how much money bad been
deducttld for expenses. At Clayton's shop, at
Deptford, a great quantity of things connected with
the spec wore taken possession of, as also at Farrah's shop.
It was thought that, the system having grown to enor-
mous proportions, it was for the public good such pro-
ceedings should be suppressed.
The following witnesses were then examined :
Inspector Clark said—l am an inspector of the Metro-
politan police, and in consequence of directions I received
I went on Saturday last to the Bedford Arms, Andover-
road, llornsey. It is kept by a person of the name of
Harris. Sergeant Palmer was with me. Wo went to the
bar, where we found Minns serving the customers, he had
a book of tickets for the Deptford Spec, for the Liverpool
Grand National, to which was attached a counterfoil. I
think about a dozen ,were sold, whilst we were present
at one shilling each. I purchased a ticket, numbered
56,810. Palmer also purchased a ticket. I produce the
ticket I purchased. There were to be GO,OOO subscribers
at is each, with the other prizes as already mentioned.
"A. L." was on each of tho tickets. After the tickets
Were purchased the people went up to a large room on the
first floor. I went up, and found about 60 or 70 persons
there. The four defendants, Alexander Walker, Charles
Clayton, Walter Daniels, and Thomas Stephen Morris
were there. A man was also there selling tickets. I don't
him personally, but I know him to be a racing man. I
purchased one of him also—viz., 53,791, for the Liverpool
Grand National. The draw then took place. Walker,
who was behind the table in the club room, got up an
said, "4,200 tickets not sold." That he repeated twice,
and then gave the particulars of them. It took half an
hour to read the numbers. Daniels and Morris appeared
to be conducting the business. They untied a number
of small parcels of tickets, and continued to
do so until they had undone about a bushel of them. If
could see there were numbers upon the tickets. The
tickets were then all mixed up and put into a large wheel
of fortune with a quantity of stud to prevent the tickets
stacking together. Clayton then asked if any gentleman
had got a sporting paper, and receiving no answer he pro-
duced one himself—the Sporting Life—said, " Will any
gentleman read out the horses entered for the Grand Na-
tional ?" This was done, and Clayton produced a ticket
for each horse entered, and placed them on the table.
Walter Daniels and Morris then proceeded to undo the
prizes, which were larger tickets than the others —I
should say in bulk they appeared to be about a
quarter the quantity of the other tickets. These
tickets were then placed in another wheel o
fortune, and then two boys came into the room, pulled
their Jackets off, and one went to each wheel, when the
t*wheeler were turned by a stranger present, and each boy
weea ticket, which ho gave to Morris, who stood be-
n the two. He called out the name of the horse and
the prize twice. This occupied about 40 minutes. All
the tickets were entered on a paper as they were drawn.
Clayton assisted Morris in calling out the numbers and
prizes. They took turn and turn about until the whole of
the tickets were drawn. The draw terminated at a quarter
past ten. I left after the draw, and went to the front of
the bar and saw Minns. I did not see Leishman at all that
night. I then left the house. I was not present when the
Prprizes were distribed at the Bedford Arms. On the
int of March I went to 10, Florence-cottages. It is a
and
te house, but fitted up as an office. I saw Clayton
Walker there. They were behind the counter. I
Said " Have you any tickets for the City and Suburban ?"
Clayton said "Yes, how many ?" I said "five." He said
"Will you have them from one book, or several ?" I said
"From different books," and ho gave them me from some
books he took from different parts of the place. The num-
bers of
each were 3,462, 3,877, 3,819, 42,950, and 72,374.
sI paid ls. each for the tickets. I produce them in the
übsl receivod them. The prizes in this race were 75,000
x2O, is. each. First horse, £6OO ; second,
£4OO ; third,
U. Starters
£2 each , £5OO ; non-starters, £BOO. 800 prizes
; 400 £1 each ; and 500 of 10s. each. There
were hundreds of books of tickets in the office. 1 then,
on the same day, went to Clayton's shop, Clarence-
place, Deptford. I purchased there two tickets for the
same race, these were numbered 74,893 and 65,142. There
Wore there also a great us
say boaks about the place.
th O
e3a of April I received the result-sheet from
Serge a
ant
Suuerway. From that I found that one of my tickets,
7120,3;41Q, was a £1 prize, and on the 7th of April I west to
-ac
to tt s
door,an daaatdthriNvfeoeallloko'cwloccdk feomu nd
intoM o rt rhies
and Walker
ratasked the amount
office and presented the ticket.
of the prizes, I said ho then looked
xvol3nerit alt gave
the ticket, which had had some ink spilleda
back. Morris looked at it, and then said,it this, that's all about it." I said the number Icvaaens:ttqtpuhai.ty:
plain, and that it was purchased cf them in the state was. They refused to pay the ticket and 1 then left the
office.

y learned friend need not im-
Mr. Sergeant Sleigh-11
pute other charges to those nowbeingl disposed of.
opLeptford
Witness continued—Last evening
armed with warrants and some othteroo:lotilmeres
atondNfoo.ultiOd,
Florence Cottages. I went into h
Walker, Clayton, Daniels and Morris there —all seemed to
La engaged counting money. Money was lying in heaps
on the counter. I heard that Leish4ianwasoinatnhde hlotuhseen,
so I sent for him to come down.
Hs did
told them I was an officer and held
warrants fur thewiatph:
prehension of all of them. Each gave their names
out hesitation, and I told them I must take
them into
custody. I produced a search warrant and said I should
take possession of all I found connected withi the
lottery, and did so. During this time Leishmanssad, I'veme
conducted this spec for six years, and no one can askaid
he
for a penny. lie repeated that frequently. lie
s
was the originator of the spec., and that he had pledged
his clothes to keep his first engagement. I took posses-
of all things I found there, consisting of books, tickets,
result sheets, (Sze., iu all enough to fill four large hampers.
also took charge of £1,400 19s. Sd., all in small coins,
and I believe that is the amount. I've not counted it.
ThThere was to have been a distribution for the Newmarket
1-tundie,P that
th sent to Clayntigh:. Leishmanwest said he was very
not permitted to pay the money. I
oil t. shop. 1 went to Farrah's, 282,
I asked
It 13 a stationer and publisher's shop.
fur Mr Farrah, and he said lam Mr. Farrah. 1 told him
I was
an °M--cer, and held a warrant for his arrest. lie
read the document and said ho was quite surprised ho had
not received notice
would to discontinue the business, which ho
of course have done. I told him I had a search war-
ruraenta'llwthieickhetls,seLzeo.,nce put into execution. Farrah gave
he had in the shop. I produce them
all. I have not had time to examine them. There are
tickets relating to a great number of " Specs," and also
shares in the " Lucky bag." Tickets had previously been
Lought at his shop for the Derby Spec.
In reply to Mr. Sergeant Sleigh, who said ho should .