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THE CHINA MAIL, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 130; · 1950: ·
THE
DOWNFALL OF AN
EDWARDIAN SPORTSMAN
R
old
"Not that I remember."
"Did you ever Insure soldier for
"No."
de the conclusion of the evening he had OBERT Standish Stevier received an, ovation. pletely confident,
elded to conduct his case him- the floor was ittered with un- Sievier was an Ed. From the mere position of u
popular sportsman, he became self; a simple-hearted sportsman completed cheques all in wardian sportsman. almost a national hero. His op- would be able to appeal to a Slevior's handwriting, and with single He was well known pearance WIK greeted with jury as no advocate could hope attempted signatures by Horne piece?"
15 undecipherable
to be frenzied cries of "Good"
to do. Moreover, he considered so on every racecourse and at rond even his counsel was himarit mentally superior to any worthless. It was so easy to every
sporting gathering acclaimed in the universal ap-
make denints in the absence of member the Bar.
Horne himself, from Hurst Park to the probation.
His appearance in the witness some final questions which re- National Sporting Club. He
Unfortunately, he was not box was everything his most quired good deal would gamble on anything content to rest on his laurels. enthusiastic supporters could planation. and drink with anybody. Feeling. по doubt,
that his have wished, Gay, debonair; he ag n critic of rivol was disaning in his frankness. and 80, not unnaturally, position
"I do not profess to be his sportsmen was now assured, he
to be a saint," proceeded to
launch R
he new
sald, "
a gambler. Am series of attacks, and for hly have been a
all gambler my victim he selected Richard life. Like all good sportsmen 1 Wootton, a racehorse trainer. have had my ups and downs. I have owned the best horses in the world. Also the worst.
was
among
known sporting friends as, "Good fold Bob Sievier."
were
In appearance he was a shade
his clothes flamboyant; rather louder than customary and his language, rather forceful
necessary. that was all part of als Edwar- dian character.
than
more but
No terrors
Wootton WDS an Australian who had been remarkably sue- coaful in Britain. In company 'with his two sons, Frank and He had been good enough to Stanley, who were
among the present his admiring sycophants leading jockeys of the day, he with a short volume containing practically swept the board, and
of his some details
boisterous it was no doubt in consequence He had married a lady of the position all three enjoyed
Robert of fortune; he had even received that
Stevier thought an invitation to a Royal func- they would prove kely subjects tion and he had been a member for attack. of well-known sporting clubs us far Australia.
career.
ufeld os
Melbourne,
The possiblity of an action at law had no terrors for him. No Jury could possibly give a ver-
otherwise
iri than
He had owned one of the dict best-known racehorses of his favour. time, u mare named Sceptre.
his
But Wootton was not the For a short time he had been a kind of man to submit tamely book -maker. He was a great
attack. Although not pos- a Company of Im-to or Sicvier's gay de- Yeomanry, departing for sessed service in South Africa, he had meanour, he was a determined a dan- promised
against Person likely to prove
marcover, he death or injury, so that each gerous enemy:
had known Sievier in Austra- might face the
risks of war lin, and was aware of many without anxiety for his depen- detalls of his hectic life.
dants.
tsurance
Greatest pride
He determined to
carry the war into his adversary's camp. With great care and after much investigation. he prepared shor! account of Slevier's of But his greatest pride lay in achievements. In the world his gambling exploits. There sport, and caused the story to was not
of skill or be circulated on every game on which he was not course in the country in the chance prepared to risk a fortune; even form of a small pamphlet.
#
гасе-
ย
at billiards he had played for
It described Slevier as slakes of many hundreds of pounds,
Against thorough scoundrel, calling him particularly named Horne, with blackmailer, a cardsharper, whom he played one night at and a common thief, Monte Carlo.
3
במחז
Such a document, if untrue, was too scurrilous to be ignored; racing man knew its
But Slevier was also a journg- list. He owned and conducted every a periodical known as The contents, Winning Post, a peculiar paper which published series short biographies entitled "In Glass Houses," which contain- ed details of the life history of well-known personalities,
of
And, chosen for inclusion in the series, was an
article con- cerning the history of a certain Mr Jack Joel.
even Sievier's mosi staunch
supporters arged that some raply was necessary if he was to retain his great reputa- tion. Slevler knew it too, and issued a writ for libel, determin- ed to prove once more that an English jury would vindicate an English sportsman.
Sensation
Mr Joel was a gentleman who Mr Wootton took a different had made a fortune in South Africa, and in whose life there view. In his defence he plead- was apparently some incident cd that every allegation in his which he was not particularly pamphlet was true.
anxious to revive. In conse-
an assurance
The action was the sensation he requested that the of the day. The court of the quence
should not publication
take Lord Chief Justice was throng place, and in reply he received ed with an excited crowd or that his wishes racing man an hour before Lord would be carried out provided Reading tools his seat. Slevier Mr Sievier received £5,000. must have thought himself to
be more than fortunate in hay Nol unnaturally, Mr. Joel came to the conclusion that such as his judge the man who, 65 Rufus Isaacs, had been his counsel in the earlier action.
con-
"I am known on every race- course, and I gladly offer my character to the investigation of anyone who dares to question it. First and last I am an Eng- liah sportsman, and so I would be judged."
be an
easy
10 mah
cross-
"He did."
morc cx-
"Was that on the ground that he had been too drunk to now what he had signed?"
on penny
willing wliness, and above all was anxious to say no word to injure his old friend Robert Slevier.
With dimeulty I obtained the information that he know of the attacks by Sløvtor against By this time any claim that Joel, and further, that he him. But there were Sievler may have had to be re- self hud handed to
Slevier a cheque for 25,
25,000; but beyond garded as a good sportsman, or, that he would not go. And as Indeed, an honourable member it was not within my rights to of society, had almost sap cross-examine him, indeed. I peared, But ho was quito should not have been allowed "The next morning did Horus clever enough to know that the to do so, I
I was
obliged to leave repudiate the cheque?"
strongest ground upon which he the matter
there. could talte his stand had not yet Bul to Stevier, when his turn been touched.
came to ask the questions, Mille was for more "I have been acquitted at the indeed, he was prepared to ac
accommodating; Central Criminal Court,'
ho cept any suggestion that was sold. "Compared with that made to him; it was true, ho fact, there is nothing else that sald, that no question or thought matters. You have called me a of blackmail ever arose; indeed to blackmailer. And that you can Sievier had
flatly refused take any money whatever from Jack Joel; as for the £3,000. It was nothing but a friendly loan to Slevier from himself.
If Mills had been a wholly I laid him we were going to unbiased witness that story try.
might have been accepted, but his partiality was too apparent In vain Sievier appealed to to be easily dismissed." The for a few further the Lord Chief Justice for pro- necesally
he raised the questions by way of re- tection: in vain plen that as he had been ac examination appeared to be in- quitted at the Central Criminal dicated. Court, no one should be allowed ngain to mulainin the truth of a charge upon which he had been found Not Guilty,
"It may have been." "And, in consequence of what had occurred, that night, did the never prove." British Consut at Monte Carlo
to you
leave the direct Principality and not come back?"
Onc could almost hear the jury answer: "Good old Bob."
For that there could be no Robert Sievier was not going to
satisfactory explanation. examine. Finesse would be a Insensibly the whole atmosphere waste of time; good humour in court began to change. Was would be
Direct Slevier quite the honest sports- methods would be required. mon he had seemed?
an error.
THE CASE BOOK OF SIR PATRICK HASTINGS, KC
-CHAPTER FOUR-
He faced me with a smile of good-natured amusement.
"You know that Mr Wootton has said you are a blackmailer and a thief?"-
"Oh, yes."
"I am going to suggest that you are in every way a scoun- drel and that your racing career should be ended once and for
In vain
Latitude
They had to be framed with there la a limit
Sterly he was reminded that some care, as this time the issue was being to the latitude allowed to counsel tried in a libel case before a Civil re-examining his own witness, Court, and if the defendants but Mr Mills was asked to give further details of this desired to take upon themselves some
He did strange transaction. the risk of reopening the matter, so with obvious regret. they were entitled so to do,
"Had Sievier shown you any
whatever might be the chance photographs to be incorporated of success or fallure.
And nobody knew better than with the proposed article on
Joel?" the Lord Chief Justice how difficult that task would be. The "He had." whole isque must depend on It is difficult to over-estimate the story to be told by the man
“Who did the photographs the effect of atmosphere at any Mills.
had represent?" In the past he trial in which a man's character proved to be Sievier's greatest
"Two well-known criminals," chief moment, asset at his trial. Nobody, had is the matter
ever questioned his Integrity, "Where were they bo ble come from the back benches, and he was undoubtedly Slevier's placed?" and to grow in volume, until it friend. can be read on the faces of the jury.
It is electric, and seems to
cuse, It was so in Sevier's Even the carnation in his buttonhole appeared to droop, For a nioment Mr Sievier and the sweat began to glisten seemed slightly disconcerted. So on his face.
A change
I had not been present at the hearing of the criminal trial and was, therefore, untrammelled by recalivet on of the senti- It was going to be hard fighting!
ments which then prevailed,
But But that was only the be
on this occasion the "For any particular reason?"
ginning. There were so many atmosphere was very different. "Many.
ask him; Let US take
so many At the Central Criminal Court one. things to
crowded ··building was Supposing an English sportsman isodes throughout his life that the played a game of billiards with seemed amusing when recorded with Sievier to a man. No in- into his a friend at a time when the by himself, but became less quiry had been made friend was so drunk that he favourable when produced in puat adventures, and through- could not hold a cue, would it court. One by one he was taken out the trial he remained, as he had been before it started, be a gross fraud to win forge through them all. Sum of money
the abject of popular admiration and regard,
game?"
such 11
There could be only one an- swer to such a question: "Yes."
"Do you know a man named Horne?" I asked.
Once agala Slevier jovial self.
Money gone
This time there was a change. The jury had learned something of Sievler's past.
Slevier finally
pala
money
admitted,
that
"One on each side of a picture. of Joel himself."
"What for?"
Mr Mills began to be con- fused. "I do not know."
"How could the publication be prevented?"
"If Mr Joel paid "Did Mr Joel hand
£5,000?"
"Yes,"
£5,000,"
you
"What did you do with the money?"
"I handed it to Mr Sievler," "And was the publication stopped?"
"It was."
No avail
When he married, his wife was a rich woman. When she separated from him some time under cross-examination,
Once again Sievler raised his had made some attacks was his later, she was penniless. Where he
had the money gone? Ap upon Jack Joel, and that he had protest, but it was of no avail. received £5,000 from his friend The story had come out at last, parently he had used his wife's
In no protracted Arial is 11
the points. "There were two of them; two business as a bookmaker, which that the mail. It had been which to the jury appear to be
"knew him wall," he said. fortune for the purpose of his Mills, but he indignantly denied
been possible to know
brothers. One was known
It may Hunting Horne,
as he had started under the name nothing but a friendly loan be- nve been the vide and one
have been the evidence of Mr. us of a cousin and Punch Sicvier. tween two friends.
Mills. I do not know. Drinking' Horne. When Hun-
Mills had said that before, ting' Horne
But there was one particular went hunting he
It again, and and would say
admission made
Robert by generally fell off.”
Sicvicr challenged us to put his
the witness box Sievier which was so disgrace- oid friend Into
for that it may well have deny it in his indignation turned the sentes
against him, at finding his innocence being and disclosed him to the jury. us question
again, Robert questioned once
man without Blevler seemed to regala that air a decent feeling.
Last laugh
demand savoured of black- mall, and his view was con- siderably reinforced when he was informed that if the article dld appear a portrait of Mr Joel would also be included
Slevier's photograph of a well- with a known criminal on either side of him.
►
Moreover, there were siderable grounds for Slovier's optimism. Wootton had used plain words, every one of which would have to be proved true.
Indiscretions and peccadilloes would be insufficient to justify the libels. 'Cardsharper,"
strong words. Would it be pos- sible to atisfy any jury that Mr Joel decided to prosecute the verdict given at the Central Slevier as a blackmaller, and Criminal Court in the Joel case the subsequent proceedings had had been wrong? amazing results. Far from dis- Slovler's appearance paraging Slevier, his popularity Royal
Courts of Justice was **** almost a repetition of his carlier triumph. As he drove, gally to
Amazing results "thier," and "blackmailer were
at the
and,
The money had all gone and He Sievler owed
even more. had tried to avoid liability by alleging that he was a mere manager for his cousin, when that failed, he had escaped laughed by pleating the Gaming Act loudly, and he joined in their the one course of conduct which taughter, but it was the last racing men do not forgive. time he was to laugh thai day.
Was
friends
shred of
When his friend Mr Topping of Robert came to the rescue
confidence, indeed arr
arrogance, which for the past few hours had slightly languished, The description of "Drinking" He had been bankrupt more
It was under these conditions Sievier with the loan of £1,000 Horne
expenses of de- unfor- than once. perhaps
His proud boast that Mills entered the witness towards the
charge tunate. It was in Drinking" that he was once a member of
outsat it was fending the criminal box. From the Horne that I was interested. He the Melbourne Club became obvious that he was a most un- (Contd. on Page T, Col. 6)
who lost large less impressive when It was was the man sums at billiards when he play- learned that he had been ex- ed with Robert Sievier. one polled. night in Monte Carlo,
His invitation to appear "Did Horne pay his loss that Court lost most of its social night by cheque?"
value when the jury were in- formed that the invitation hat been withdrawn.
"He did."
Increased a thousandfold, His friends rallied to his assistance; onc, a Mr Topping, subscribed the courts he was escorted by a £1,000 towards the cost of his cheering crowd; cries of "Good defenge.
old Bob" greeted him both out- Slevler indignantly dented side and inside the court, and that he had ever demanded the police had the greatest £5,000, or any sum, and that dimeulty keeping the that he should pay his debt that the whole story was invented vociferous by Joel and was nothing but trick to bring about his ruin.
Slevier's trial took place at the Central Criminal Court, and, brilliantly defended by Rufis Isanes, he was trium phantly acquitted.
In
enthusiasm - within
the bounds of decency.
Bright
smile
With a bright smile on his face, and a gorgeous carnation in hils buttonhole, “Good · old Bob" looked the beau ideal of an The chief witness for the pro- English sportsman against secution, a friend of Sievier's whom any
allegation of dis- named Mills, was more than honesty was unthinkable. half-hearted in his evidence, and the case practically col-
"If Horne was la fact, so drunk as not to know what he was doing. it would be essential night before he became sober?"
"Ridiculous!"*
nt
And, even ouside his racing world, his conduct had been con- Ho had proudly temptible. boasted of his generosity to the Company of Yeomanry which had sailed to the South African War. He was asked about that. It was quite true that ho had promised an insurance to return, "Who wrote out the body of anybody who did not
and some did not return. the cheque?"
Who signed the cheque?"
"Horne."
"I did."
20
"Was that because Heroe was not drunk that he could write it out himself?"
He needed no counsel to re- present him this time. Com-
This denied.
Slovier indignantly
Inpsed.
POP
IM NEXT!
IM NEXT
"It is possible that in some cases their dependants may have to redeem my pro- asked me mise," he said.
"Did any one of them ever
He also denied that at receive a penny?”
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