1954-06-12 — Page 8

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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