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THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, JUNE · 12,
I AM THE RINGER
Let me take you inside
the 'Edgar Wallace world' I lived in ...
1954.
I
with
by MAURICE WILLIAMS The owner of the racehorse Francasal
become paralysed Had someone gene to the excitement. I did course to back the horne? Could not know whether it was it be that the bookmakers with whom the bets had been Jald the rain or perspiration, had scented a good thing? Ilud they got on before the wire service broke down?
but fell wet all over.
It was in the fat above the My horre was ahead by family shop that he woke up length. But it looked as though engerly on the morning
of the other horses were not only July 10
Inst year.
He swung holding him but galning. his 10 stone out of bed as soon as the dusty London daylight
THE CHINA MAIL has decided to tell-largely in his own terms the story of a crook. Has William Maurice Williams, owner of the racehorse Francasal and now a prisoner in Worm- wood Scrubs, any claim on the attention of intelligent people? gimmered through the window. Gilchrist Certainly he has.......
EDUAR WALLACE
BECAUSE HIS STORY lifts the fringe on the whole world of betting which touches millions of people's lives.
BECAUSE HIS STORY provides a precise portrait of a type bred in these days in greater numbers than people think.
BECAUSE HIS STORY provides also--and almost with an Edgar Wallace sense of climax and retribution-the portrait of a conspiracy and the things that can wreck all conspiracies.......
2 p.m. at Bath...all my life had been leading up to this
ILLIONS of words have been wolfegr Jsbest!
M
horse Frauma sut
moment ...
through
*
dificult
The race has gr rith Juize 200 yards. before he spotted the colentes
wanted BET cipcolate and white
And the jockey wearing there colours was out in fron! Ta looked as though his horse was going to who
Wim e even feeling
le b the
a man when
which will win
blm
$3
hours the ambities of
L
by into one dream-rich after- noon in a man's life?
For AL hopes, the
am its registered owner My lifetime nearly came true. A name is Maurice Williams. horse won
I have been sew to. prison £35,000 - yes. for two years. No doubt you the kitty.
rend
about
#17 V
have crime....
But what court report can ever take you complete.
*Fantand for dig
như ở in thận 1811
The
and there was
£35,000
It was the betting the century And 1:
" | ד
about!
when it espe, ally
Long betting
n!
1
1. W 1 Teel, Because Not only del Francasal
"י
plan set mesh Santa Amaro, winch
with Francosal
I was
pas man
1
#1
Couji of
1 svitebet The whole worki
Fest
be very
Franmasal 11 Furt
Amar. a pat
For would have
Swatching
KIHWA
Ban as
really 1509
Santa
21011
Odle
THE
dhead
anther 2
dat
La suits
KINGER
fo
11.15
If you can
neurly came off J been for a mahn well of wire-clippers it Cont of
Not in plan
MUST make it clear that the man whes et 1 wo slici
it unknown to me 11 was wart
That act
My
ruined an elaborate conspritzy which had been going on for months.
The court reporters have taken down millions f words Aft Methotel colinsei J talked for days on end, but the full drama of the Frapeusal affole has never yet been told.
All the complicated spiracy was telescoped into one afternoon Gr.T
day a
- מלני
Birth There bist man, ha: less, in a ralnevat, huddled his shoulders against the min [ the crowd us this ritmap NBA the FaereoUTSO,
2
The two reloek mice was just starting. The big m tick
F1 W
on Uptee to watch it.
Curio
HURIO dealers are slowly
business. For
yeura now
ull- or
[
beert my bo lueg
cut at a business
NOTE:
So much For Maurice Wal-
liam's confession But the Prancaz cute was his frat venture in horse-ringent When Fraucanal passed the
Dust F was the high poluř of his career, a shadowy the Twilight
He
Kno
catert
frluge the world there
works.
WET RO our pap an incong tar. 3 la m world of tight-Upped mee teho ask questions.
1 a world where ple have their pockels stuffed with Avers and alternately hysterical hope the grey despair in their hearts It is a world which the
ordinary punter who puts a few whitings 911 horse does mt understand
will never enten.
When grabbed them.
Thed
a halt,
T
2W the show th
Then the most chilling thought of all struck me. The thought which is the waking nightmare of all crooked Jockey "Had I been
horse
conspirators: double-crossed?"
1 was soon to know. I read
of the every edition
evening newspapers as they came out. They were carrying reports that the police and the Jockey Club
asked
worse newa
the papers Сате he the whip. I thought we were But he stayed out in He ignored the beaten headlines that told of the front and won by a length and Queen's Coronation Review of the RAF. al Odiham and I remember saying to myself; head been Informed. turned quickly 10 the back I have pulled it off. I have were being
puled it off. I thought Francosal. page. It was the day of the Big really Switch,
of all the scheming, the plot- He found at both
the nerve-racking strain, Santa Ling. Amaro
Francnsal were the doubts--but it had worked. among the 20-1 others in the I quite forgot my anxiety to 2 o'clock race. One racing avoid being recognised by any- correspondent tipped Santa one. I am a big man, eft, Zins, Amaro to win. No the
Have tall, but I jumped up and down. I literally danced for joy. Francasal.
People drew away from me a little. They must have thought I was drunk or mad, Perhaps 1 was 19e mad,
of
Williams had a breakfasi bucon
and eggs and dremed himself carefully in a grey suit. nylun shirt. and brown shoes. As it looked like rain he carried
raincoat.
The people who live in thức unreal, pressure-cooker would are us drugged with dreams as He told his suster, with whun any oplum smoker. It is the he lived, that he was going but the professional for the day When he walked into the July mornlog he was undecided what he would do on the most important day of his life.
world gamblers.
Maurice Williams was one of these. His father, who kept a paint and wallpaper sbog
Hond, Kentish Towita. Malden strongly disapproved of gambi Ing.
Nor
A
He died at the age of 80 few years ago, luckily not Hving to
his son become the central figure in the most sensa- tionel betting
uf Case
thr century, For ever since he put his Best shilling on a horse at the 3#* of 15 lbhv gambling life hurt held Maurice Willams
Ha detopus grip.
As i sipped my whisky I read the news.
Then suddenly he knew what Be muzeel Ko to he must do
Bath and stand unknown arnong the crowd to watch his switch- ed horse Francusol run, Thust Was just what he had not in- terides to do, But the over- powermg impulse proved greater than the instinet for enation,
And note Williams takes up the the story again and tela lets ouen "iperds of the day that nearly wade he rich the day that mu klu in prison.
Cheap ring
TOLD
I was going Is th I slipped quietly on to the platform and look a sent in the front of the train. A Bathemagist abels to Liber racecourse and bought a ticket for the
cheap ring pold Os. (kd, för il.
1
Although I was an owner tlid not
10 the owners'
enclosura.
I stayed in the crowd. With
at the
Particularly when I glanced it was winner's price, 100-8 on the course. And I had £3,500 on the horse.
I had made ་ fortune.
What does a man do when: he realises that he has suddenly won
which a sum of money will save him from worry the rest
Docs of his life" drink champagne, book a suite In the most expensive hotel?
Shared taxi
I ld
Questions about
Was вам
Bul follow. The newspapers sald that bookmakers night hold up payments on the winner pending an official decision Worry, worry
WAS really worried now. I decided to ring up the 18 bookmakers wrthr when my
£3,500 had been laid and claim my winnings.
The first bookmaker 3 phoned Was Fred Truelove of Mou- chester with whom the largest single bet had been placed,
When said wonted claims £5,000 plus commission Francasal, Mr Truelove sounded cheerful enough.
for At
ofi
THIS B what
left 10 minutes the racecourse
Frauensal had won the iran Selling Handicap. neross the road in the rain mist te a taxi
after Spa
KAA
I had to share it. My fellow fare
weather- a short, beaten man who said: "1 am soaked through and 1 have had enough, I did not even have a bot,"
I answered: "Nor did I"
11 was, in fact, the truth All the £3,500 had been placed off the course for me by the man I had appointed to man-
the
Commission agent's business I had bought
ap
I had 40 minutes to wall for the train, so I went into a stricl cafe and had a cup of tea
АП
In London I bought evening paper. Francasal's
starting price had been returned ni 19-1 The winnings had to be recalculated. But they still
the small-time racegoers in the reached the sizable Jaure of cheap ring. In the pouring £35,000.
rain,
While I turned this comfurt- Suddenly I heard the yelling information round in my "They're off!" At first I esuld head I decided lo have 23 not see
what was happening drink. I went inlo a public Then I saw my chocolate and housecalled, Ironically enough, white colours out in front.
The Running Horse-and read the Paper carefully. As } sipped my whisky I noticed a small paragraph which sald
Dealer Is Being Forced Out
By TOM
from the mon who all over the Colony. Big and
Swarty w with shirts, small....imposing sightly on main roads or ferent from any
Admittedly his shop is dif
other kind of in back streets...all end store.
There Is something ing colour to this island. strange and mysterious about
place which houses fantastically
per
quaint ernarments and
Few peuple
can
these fascinating
resist museums
in miniature. There is some- thing for
*
L
the
EYTON
the
Off
chance that u come along who la not willing to spend
to
ດ
a
45 far
curto dealers. Window
T10.
? few
great
"A stori
cut
communtrations
with Bath Racecourse,"
had
my
il
When my
falr
Pipe dream
I put on a pair of old flannels and a sports coat and went for a walk across Hampstead Heath. On my way back I joined some friends at the Railway Tavern near
I bought my home. round
of drinks and
to
But he said: "That's all right, old boy, but of course you know
advised we've been
by Sporting Lengue National withhold bayment until the
the to
whole matter is cleared up. If they agree, your cheque will be sent on."
So I rang up all
18 bookmakers,"
And next day? Well, then 11 renity hit me. Francusol were traced by found together.
and Santa Amaro
shed that one
the police and
It was estab- had been shod In this country. The other was still wearing the plates in which he had travelled from France.
All this was a stock to me. I wo had blundered had no iden
so grossly.
I, as the ignorant owner, was told that the horses had been identified because one of them. Santa Amaro, had
of spots the size bits on its withers. This probably caused by saddle rub- bing Francosal did not have
These spots.
two while threepenny
was
It was only then 1 reallsod mug I had been
what
When I rang one of my con- federates up
待吧 again
THE HORSES THAT ARE ALWAYS IN THE NEWS
sald
When a photographer went to Epsom last week to take this picture of Francasal and Santa Amaro, "which is which?”. was still the question. A policeman said: "That's Francasal." "No, no," said the groom, "that's Santa Amaro." In the Racing Calendar a Jockey Club statement was published
that both horses were "perpetually disqualified," and that Williams, Harry George Kateley. Gomer Charles, and Robert Victor Colquhoun Dill had been warned off "Newmarket Heath and all other places where the rules of racing are in force." And all bels on the race are vold-except cash bets already settled.
20
can
'Here he is'
I turned over the paper un- Interestingly, It never occurred patronised by wealthy
collec- to me that this news flem might tora,
have any signifieance for me. Americans Arc
A 24 bus took me home, I was buying there before seven. curio shops have flourished pad appeared to be no different price can be fixed before this help the small dealer? Not enigma
antiques JA concerned, They sister gave me two bolled eggs, sells ice antique reaches Hongkong. The a bit, Fils shop is doomed
dealer knows the shorlage of
said "I Most small shops rely on the certainly have the money, but, I
win curiously enough, they are today." poliques and points this out to less expensive curios, and few
rrely found buying from This-If
Hilicit winnings the would-be buyer. "Great of them have regular cutomers,
shoppin had ever been paid-i realise risk," he whispers, and glances Therefore they cannot afford to
the gambling Apparently would rank as around to make sure no one la buy the expensive items being yes. Buying,
I decided to telephone the mooningly. "The police have look suspiciously understatement of the century. other bookmakers. goods which smuggled out,
the like just on istening.
having come
only been to see me and I have made from Red
describe
my reception from a statement," man will China are not allowed into The buyer is Impressed. He
them as mixed. One or two of mig United States, and though it la
So I phoned another of them d vas, many of which are
them few thou-
seemed happy
and enough.
told him: "I'm sorry Penturies old. 11 is easy enough realises the truth in this state
said that Uds rule is not
But some усте sand dollars but the image that if the antiques ment and before long he has
is willing to
exceedingly things have not turned our, then decide to cele- short with me. One called me There's something wrong come- rigidly enforced it des are! everyone. Beau cou speak, then some interest agreed to the
spend it in a dirty back street. off quite dealer's terms.
Americans.
brate? No, it is not in my a lot of nasty names, Part of this is to compensate tiful pottery, artistic carv- Ing, and perhaps weird, stories
where along the line." Chinese contact
That evening the papers were Few dealers have any plans Antique dealers despair of do- temperament. for the Inga in jade and ivory, would be told.
for
Americans the future.
I read that the carrying headlines about me. chances he takes. And the rest
bookmakers They realise mg business with elegant statuettes in rose-
They asked, so long us the embargo remaina. their predicament, but have no
"Who is Maurico were screaming. There was To a person with little know-
of the money....well that goes
Williams?"
1 talk of a witch "Where wood paintings on silk, ledge of antiques, and without
to the Hongkong dealer who
being pulled. answer
the problem. Ap-
Meurice Williams?"
A thousand questions crowded tapestries. huge vases, the temperament to apprecaite makes a tidy sum in addion parently
they lotend to hold
into my mind. must
fast. Most of them sell curlos seem strange wooden fishes with protrud- beauty. il
to his usual prot.
coating from a few dollars to a The number of antique curio modest that
So the end appear in aleht man should live and antiques ing
What had put the police on eyes and
work amidst this legacy of ages
few hundred. and
Ivory and
the trail? Because there was no time gone which once upon 21
by. After all. those
Jade
their standbys. When shops will slowly dwindle until went home.
doubt they were on the trail. decorated temples, stately roleaque figures would hardly
asked if jade and
Next morning ivory only the smart operator is left.
I lay in bed MAURICE WILLIAMS Some dealers
curiously carvings could be obtained himself
to the cinema to koop out homes, and even palaces. make for good companions
I can picture him modelling luxuriously, pulling metaphoric of the way. It was a musical tions of Maurice Williams, all of There were several descrip- 1er
to sell dead of night,
nut keen whether
tic beller Hongkong most dealers cald
on the style of the ally at the gambler's pipe dream called "The Farmer Takes a the "No. pieces they acquire unless
London Most local carving-and
"wide boy" ог they were superbly carved or
them inaccurate except one, "#ply,"
which had come true.
Wile." The star customer's offer
really it is
the carried out on quite not.
man who
Botty decided the time had come to grabs your
Then my sister are ·
handed me Grable. But oven tempting.
With an eye to the inrge scale is 100 rough,
and whispers hoarsely,
could consult a solicitor. *** can the papers. I jumped out of not make me see all the film. I For all his strange surround- future and conscious of the
get the stuff, Tosh....for a bed. The newspapers said that left half-way through, lives like empty spaces appearing on It is true that a few brilliant price. Now П friend of 142 War suspected that the needed company,
their shelves they are reluctant craftsmen have come to Hong- mine..........”
blower wire to Batht Race- of the antique curio dealer trereely courteous and quiet to part with any good stuff kong from China, and aro
had been The collector can rest assured
course
cut deliber-
So I went into a cafe which Inspector Hodge be coming to an end. It all spoken he looks far from that comes their way.
carving ivory with all their old that
ately.
I use regularly. I was greeted me. man's Roes back to
determination to decision mado aggressive when proudly show-
artistry. One man in particular make money,
For some Ume, as I ate my by shouts of "Here comes the The more
I drove to Scotland Yard with years ago in China, the source ing some jede or ivory to
unscrupulous are
no matter what fa exceptionally talented, the risk, will enable him to breakfast, I did not fully realise big racehorse owner"
my solicitor. of
The mysterious fine arto and rare prospective buyer.
Not one of the people in that Maurice But most trying to poft fokes on ne much so that one piece cost as keep adding the best pieces to the implications of this news,
Williams had COTOM antiques as far as Hongkong is people can put up a fight when
experienced collectors. One much as $8,000.
his collection so long as he is still believed the most likely cate ever thought for a moment forward. concerned, The Chinese satd: their livelihood is threatened.
young man with a taste for Far too high-priced a work willing to pay heavily. But us was only concerned with
explanation was the storm. I that I was really the Maurice jade so wormed his way into a
for the small dealer to handle, for the man who wants some possible effect on my bets.
the Williams the papers were talk- dealer's confidence that he was He wants to sell smaller stuff thing to place told just how the rareties
in his sitting which is of good workmanship room or the tourist who wants I could not see how the At midnight I was unable to smuggled into the Colony.
and I will cell at a few something cosentially
situation could affect them. aleep. I poced across the hundred dollars. These are the then I am afreld they will go why
Eastern, Then I suddenly asked myself Heath to Parliament Hill for Beenuse of the demand. thers He was shown a jade oma- things which tourists and others uncatered for. Unless of course been reduced to 10-1 when its looked down
had Francasal's price an hour and three-quarters and has developed a new type of ment which the dealer claim- buy. He leaves the expensive they
on light-smeared smuggling. The people engaged ed quite openly hadi been
have a fow thousand price in the morning papers London. I did not sleep well There has not yet been any in this trade muke their living smuggled out
are dollars to spare. of China.
had been forecast at 20-17
that night, widespread panic amongst the by smuggling rare antiques - "Genuine," sold tho dealer, dealers in Hongkong as a result to Hongkong. Only the finest "Straight
from China”. Tho
Why, then, with all this finery
10 attract, and even command ings attention, should the day any
Why
shoalet
a curlo dealer other shopkeeper.
nattenol He is no exception. our treasures be sold all over the world. They should be kept in China where they belong. And Eo they, shall. From now on- words no more -antiques loave the country."
Ex-
are
are
of this decision, but the effect pieces are smuggled out of Rted prospective buyer was not an is definitely being felt. Most of China..
that are cer- authority on jade, neither was pieces them have accumulated large tain to fetch high prices in he
when ho handle rich, and
the stone and found it
slocks, which will enable them Hongkong.
to stay in business for semo
to be slightly coarse he askot time to come, but these stocks Many of these fine specimens a friend, an expert, to have a will not last Indefinitely. A come from once wealthy homes look at it. Most
people would donier rare curlo, Good, on the Continent, whose mem- have been taken in, not only he makes his profit. But to stay bers have become impoverished by
by the dealer's persuasivenĪCIJ
Bell
in business he must have a re- as a result of the political and but also by the stone's quality, placement for the articlo ho social changes in the country, for it took an expert to prove Ene gold-and China will not and are forced to sell some→ that the so-called genuino jado supply more.
timca priceless family heir, was nothing more than a very looms to maintain life.
fine imitation. It was worth What are most curio dealers
about $50. The shopkeeper'n'
A
Jiko? To answer this question These smuggled goods find price: $500, I visited a cross-section of the their way into the more pros- Colony's curio shops, I saw perous : shops, where a. quick about a score in all, and the sale to a wealthy Eustomer can man, who iskos his living, bo guiranteed. It the loader
Antiques will continue to fillor into Hongkang no matter what measures may
be taken
wling blls and pieces from the bus n speciál 'customer, to stop the smugglers. But will
pieces
to dealers who
a.
MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN
I'LL BE GLAD WHEN WE HAVE THE REST OF THE MONEY AND CAN LEAVE FRANCE/ BOMEHOW I HAVE tape A STRANGE FEELING...
"YOUR "WOMAN'S INTUITION" MY DRAR MONIQUE PAY IT NO HEBD/
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT, TRECHAT... SOMETIMES WOMAN'S INTUITION MAKES A LOT OF SENSE! FOR INSTANCE, LOOK
AT THIS..!!
ing about.
was she
weit
Next day an appointment was
I felt I fixed for Detective Superinten-
dent
By Lee Falk and Phil Davis
Spooner and Chlor
to interview
NEXT WEEK
How a plot in a Regent street café kept the best brains
of the law working for months.
this situation
calls for a
San Miguel