1954-06-19 — Page 8

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, JUNE 19, : 19547.5*

I AM THE RINGER

Close-up of

a Conspiracy

HOW A PLOT IN A REGENT-STREET CAFÉ KEPT THE BEST BRAINS OF THE LAW

WORKING FOR EIGHT MONTHS

DO CREAM CAKES and criminal coups go together? To students of the human character and the casual forces that shape our actions, this first inside story of the Francasal Conspiracy will reveal unexpected aspects. The China Mail is telling the personal story of Maurice Williams, the actual Ringer in the biggest racehorse swindle of the century, because it is the story of the modern Edgar Wallace world. It is a probe into the It tells minds of the quick-money men. how their elaborate plots can occupy the best brains of the law for months on end.

T

Dill was

talking in his Old Etonton dravel about his trip to France.

HE three of us sal in a cafe in Regent Street drinking ten. I suppose we looked

As I watched a tousle-haired threesome in the student go by with a bedraggled an odd walnut and green walled bundle of books under his urm I thought about Di. Because cafe crowded with

be too was a student, a brilliant secretaries and students French-speaking post-graduate

the nearby Poly- of French racing.

from technic.

But we often came to this cafe because the cakes were so nice.

There

grey

cream

That was what he was talking about. He said: "My French trends tell me we can buy another two-year-old it want 12."

we

*

&

Wäs carelessly No one seemed very interest dressed Colonel Victor Dill ed. Katoley puddled the tea in in his

flannels and his saucer thoughtfully with black shopwalker's coat, sugar-smeared spoon. But he still managed to look

1. in particular, was hardly somewhat listening." I what he was

was mulling over the plot we had agreed upon. battered aristocrat,

I had bought glasses

A French Santa Amoro. perched arialy

nose, called

to run him in u selling Harry Kateley, the bookmaker, 'suing

As no one knew his form eclair

with squirting plate.

he would walk it.

Wish hiy

ate sui avlish.

runtess

on

his

I

colt

Was

And I the Big Fellow as I 1 had £5,000 left out of my am known round the racetracks dog-racing winnings. I Wis ---idly watched the girls in their going to put the lot on Santa cotton summer dresses coming Amaro and

pick up + nice in out of the July sunshine. packet for myself. I saw myself

as a man with a future—and n fortune. That was a thought as warming as the tea in the pol. cuddled il to myself as I put Two lumps of sugar in my cup.

Colonel Dill was still talking.

The price would be much less Duin Santo Amaro," he said.

Se what, I thought, I paid 12.000 for Sanla Amaro. What would want with another French coll?

"His name is Francasal," be "He is a bruwa bolt went on. like Sunta Ainuro. He

could win a selling race.”

Looked alike

SUDD

QUDDENLY I felt as if every. one in the cafe had jerked tu a standstill like they did when one of the old silent films

ke down,

Two brown celts which looked alike? I ordered another plate of cream cakes,

Because where had I got the money to buy Santa Amore? By switching greyhounds which it was almost impossible to tell apart on dog tracks.

best dog-

I was one of the ringers in the game. I had just made £10,000 proft at 11.

It

was as

A

As I surred my tea the picture came into my mina

clear us again. horse-painting by

Sir Alfred Munnings. Two brown culta that looked allke. But how much alike?

I felt the excitement begin to pump through my veins. The excitement which is a gambler's ille. I had

same drained feeling, the ash-dry mouth that betting men always have when they watch their fancy begin to nort ahead.

RUSSIA EXPLODES

T

PENALTY

HE extension of the

death penalty in Soviet Russia to cases

of common murder has con- siderable

FOR

1 tenned over to Dill. "Is thila colt anything like Santa Amaro?”

asked ensually,

Dill replied, "I don't know. I haven't seen it. Just heard about it on the phone."

As he sold this we all looked

other In at each

searching silence.

"

"I think," I said slowly, "that one of us had better gel over to France to And out."

personal confession by MAURICE

THE MOMENT NOBODY HAD PLANNED FOR.....

From the roar of the race-track to the hush of the Old Bailey... und this time Justice is the winner. Here is artisi Lewis's impression of the first trial of the five men accused in the Francasal casa. Left to right, in the dock : William Ronk, racehorse owner-acquitted : Gomer Charles, bookmaker-two years; Willam Maurice Williams, professional punter -tuo prars ; Victor Rubert Colquhoun Dili, clerk- nine months : Henry George Kateley, bookmaker-three years, 、、、

walked

This

WILLIAMS

now

Originally 1 intended, do bot £5,000 on my ringer and pay Kodaley and, DUL... đạ, in the

£ each out of my winning.

But the outlay) had exceeded -£8,000, It kept Back £500 for emergencies it present the maximum I could put on: State Amaro-Francasal" "was

£3,500.

This is it.

NO early on the morning of the Bath race in July font year I phoned, Dill and said; "This 19 H. I want £3,500 on Francasal today. Stant putting the money on and allow yourself plenty of tune."

Dit replied "Everything is under control, I have drown up a list of bookmakers and How much each will taku. have got someone in to help me, make the cails."

From a "hedging chart" we had selected the names of 18 bookmakers with whom we could place bets on commission to the limit of the credit accounts we had opened some time previously.

The bels were distributed among bookrankers in London, Manchester, Scotland, and South Wales.

Kaleloy and I had not taken Dill fully into our confidence

to me until that afternoon in until two days before, but I Regent Street.

have not the slightest doubt that he know exactly what Was was my first Idea-I intended. ostred Dill-If he could buy an All the world now knows that unknown French horse capable everything worked out accord- of winning a selling race in ing to plan-until the blower England with ease. He thought wire was cut,

He said he That led to me pacing up and solicitor's office in Piccadilly one afternoon a few days later anxiously looking at his the clock.

it could be done.

had several trainer friends in down France he would approach,

I gave Dill £25 for expenses and he New to France just about a year ago. days later he was back Fang me to say: "I've right animal.”

It was Senta Amaro.

When it showed 4.45 a big, Two soft-spoken man, wearing horn- and he rimmed glasses, came into the

at the office, With him

SUM

an

extremely erect military-looking man. They were Superintendent And the Reg Spooner and Chief Inspector Hodge of Scotland Yard,

Harry Kaleley took off is

That was how the plot was papers or

endlessly gtassen and polished them, vigorously. Then he wiped the devised-over a plate of pastries across Hampstead Heath,

about this time that price was £2,000. It was cream off his mouth. "I'li gu" in a Regent Street cafe. he said.

But it was not intended that French horses were galloping

The way.

Francasal Affair away with nearly everything on I had nearly that much avail- started quite differently-us an the English Turf.

able, mostly in oucers-one- ordinary belting coup,

Next day he was in an airliner 10 Paris. Then he took a car 12 miles to Maisons-Latte, the yewmarket of France.

Je did not need to look, twice. There he was-Santo Amaro's exact double. He drove back to Paris and caught the first plane out of Le Bourget,

Within 48 hours he was back in the cafe in Regent Street. Ho did not even take his first bite out of a cream puff before he spluttered exclledly: "They're as alike as peas in a pod."

to

That WOS all 1 needed know.

The French wanted £800 for Francasal, That was not the problem.

Ten days later the two horses Franeasal and Santa Amaro landed at Folkestone, Dul went to meet them with a horse-box.

The two peas-in-a-pod horses were stabled in England. Every thing was ready for the Ringer to go to work.

A MURDER

MYTH:

By Walter Kolarz

But this time we may believe

practical and Walter Kolarz, author at "Stalin ideological significance. The measure confirms that the Soviet regime is faced with a crime wave of such mag nitude it can be reduced only by the introduction of new and drastic measures.

Until

the official statement, for it is likely that the reintroduction of the death penalty for common crime will be populer in the and Eternal Rusala"

Soviet Union. But, of course, (1944); “Myths and Realities in Eastern Europe" (1940); "Russia

many will fear, and not without and her Colonies" (1062); "How Russia in tuled" (1953) and

reason, that the number of ex- "The Propins of the Soviet Far East" (1954), is a specialist

for political offences scriptwriter on tion.

the staff of the British Broadcasting Corpora ecutions He was formerly diplomatic correspondent of an interna- will greatly exceed the total of tional news agency.

executed Desagsins. He is a specialist in East European affakes.

Until now the Soviet regime had always claimed with pride that the death penalty in Rus-

existed only as had

now

the

violence death with

became a taxi driver was murdered by slu

Flashback

I was struck by the number pound notes-and flvers. of outsiders from France romp- ing home like odds-on tainties.

cer-

Quite

a bulge

Although the French were having these big price winners,

At the Yard

Bolicitor said: **Mr

Mwas something to

say to you. Would you like it

To make you understand how the money was not "showing" NEXT day 1 met Kateley on to be here or in Scotland Yard?"

This was I must give you a flashback to three years ago,

on the course, 1 thought this the steps of a bank Inc. Sotio. Softly, gently Superintendent meant ORC thing-a starting He was standing there, his Spooner said: "We have a car shoulders hunched, his glasses round the corner. Shall we go price organisation

The coups were brought off ing the people who work for a way at the entrance to the Yard

ginting in the sunlight, watch to Scotland Yardi?""

As we drove fluough the arch- within a day. And less than living going off to lunch,

dog tracks were becoming-well Three years ago 1 decided the

-not as hospitable towards me as they had been, So I decided 24 hours ter winning their to switch my talents to the races the horses were back la horses,

France.

I had £10,000 in the kitty, It had come into my possession by cg-ringing and gambling.

I found the horse-racing game was not as easy as it appeared at first, I was a mug the Arst year, I lost £3,000,

This furge hole in my bank execedingly balance made me thoughtful I did a lot of hard thinking as I read the racing

DEATH

non-political

be

crimes, this pro- lence cannot any longer maintained, even in theory.

The Facts

death

Bookmaker

•

two years ago the big idee was born. It was just two years ago when I approached Harry Hateley junior, son of a whom bad bookmaker for

in once worked, in his office Poland Street, Soho.

I discussed my plan with him. | I emphasised it would be neces- sary to have my own S.P. office,

So a year ago when I saw an advertisement that the business of

and

looked at the calm, I tapped my pocket. He determined faces of the polico Rlanced

at it and saw what I officers, I realised it was only a meant. That number of notes matter of time before The makes quite a bulge in a pocket. Ringer plot which was born in that Regent Street cafe would He nodded and we went inside be revealed, the bank to pay the money in.

interview with first I was going to the British Superintendent Spooner in his Bloodstock Agency so arrange third-floor office overlooking the ments could be made for the Embankment could not have horse to be brought from been more friendly. It was like France.

When the heaps of dirty coles tumbled on the counter the cashier smiled and said: "Been racing, gentlemen?"

It was very hard for me not to crack back, "No. But we will be going racing very soon."

I WAS still in the back- Kateley posed as mo

throughout the transaction.

Davidson, commission ground. agent, of England's Lane, Hamp-

And that is how I became a stead, was for sale I went to sce Kateley again. The business racehorse owner...maybe the was going for £200 with altings only one who has never worn and goodwill, plus e rent of £5 an owner's badge at a raco

moeting.

།

Ho

was an Kaleley and Dill arranged for

The

a neighbourly chat over в сир of ten,

He asked me If I were the registered owner of the horse Francosal and I replied: "Yes." He raid all he wanted to do at that stage was to establish the Maurice identity of the real Weliams.

No passport

IT only took a few minutes.

But as I rose to go Superin-

tendent Spooner said casually as

If it were an afterthought:

Casc

There can be little doubt as to the final verdiet of klstery on A week, the matter. Future historians will hardly be interested in the pit, he was then working in arrived at Folkestone. Together pasport

I had Victor Five days later Santa Amaro "By the way, do you have” a details, but only in the fundu-|

I knew what that meant. mental facts,

have Kateley's office, thep almost

educated four taken shape over

man obviously going his stapling and a horse-box to would be asiced to surrender it.

I replied: "No. I haven't a through a bad pezoid. decades.

meet him.

passport and I have never been Katoley told me Dill wos. a But matters did not work out. abroad in my life." student of French racing. Delay in getting the necessary For

a moment even the Yard decided he was the man to run papers and certidestos from men were, shaken out of their. ah office for me, So I stood France meant that Santo Amaro professional Imperturbability, And the relevant facts aru Kateley, and Dill to go and see could not run for some time. Then they looked at each other

the re-Davidson's and buy it. A week Entries which we had made had significantly. those; Ten days after

Chief Inspector Hodge made ignation of Czar Nicholas II, on later I was the new owner of a to be cancelled.

It And by now March 28, 1917, Russia's Pro- business I had never seen.

the bill had a note of the conversation. visional Democratic Govern-

My object throughout mont abollshed

was tetted up to £2,300. I decided was the first of many hundreds of notes, the first of millions penalty has been imposed punishable by up to 20 three "drunits." Although the emergency mesure against penalty.

the October to stay in the background so to send the horse back to Frog of words which the police wome After for political crimes only years' forced labour, and Soviet Penal Code regoods alleged counter-revolutionary coup d'etat by the Bolshevlics, that no one could identify me. temporarily. There was nothing to write

in utravelling the crimes. With this pretext hun- treason,

SS21 wanted Dill to place my bets also to do at that moment. espionage, and the

sentence drunkenness as an extenuating maximum

the Second Congress of Soviets when the big day came. I did

of Ringer, dreds of thousands of people in November 1917 sabotage and for these went up to 25 years in all circumstance, two of the

have been executed since 1918, this mersure. Boon locate

about any, nominal He was never used for the In eight months they inter- it has been frequently cases in which murder was assailants were sentenced to 25

I brought him viewed over 1,000 people. And when the Red Terror was offi- however, the Communiets broke business that might come the betting coup. upplied. But the life of the connected with the pilfering yeare imprisonment. Such cases

cially proclaimed.

back to England with Francasal, at the end of its as I knew their pledge.

political's way.

The switch had then been I would that day in Scotland ordinary citizen was poorly of State property, and com- have not been confined to the

reasons they reintroduced the

MardI stood in the dock at But the Soviet Government

In fact, commissions came to arranged in detail, Press reports protected.

mitted by second offenders Soviet capital.

death penalty, which, over since, about £15 or £16 a week. But

the Old . Bailey Blatening to the operating in a gang.

show that they have occurred was still able to Rewert that they have applied on a vast in almost all major centres of

there was no death penalty in scale. Article 136 of the Soviet

by the time rent, tape, and Santa Amaro was to step into judge sentencing me. the Soviet Union.

phone were paid, there was just a horse-box and step out of it at th the USSR beyond the sphere of Penal Code stipulates that However, even

political crime.

the world these new

This murder "committed out of provisions proved insufficient and the crime wave is in part of proved the superiority of Soviet moralisation has reached

The continued extension of was told

And now in the 37th year of enough left to pay Dill about Bath as Francasal, week. 210 a repeatedly. clearly Soviet power, * general do

Because of transporting Sort base impulsos" and in the crime wave STEW,

such The least a direct consequence of the "Socialist humanism" over the proportions

Now I took Kataloy hilly Into Amaro back and forwards circumstances aggravating Sovint press was instructed to Amnesty Decres of March 1983, capitalist penal system. But, no penalty has been introduced us plans for

death my

confidence about my France and other delays and the crimo is punishable with in murder cases. Such publicity hundreds of thousands

coup. That was all extra costs, jy my give more publicity to sentences which Intle

money, had benefited the the death penalty is now to be the punishment for ordinary it was then. The idea of ...a, mturunie / do M11tkho доге than ten

years' imprisonment, had been discouraged previously, political

of applied both to political and murder.

switch with horses did not occur - £4,000, 10 Premeditated murder, with too roar of destroying the north corrective labour camps but let offenders in Soviet out aggravating circum- about the new Soviet morality Ipone a considerable number of stances, is punishable with and the marsi superiority of tow habitual criminals, In tulm JOHNNY HAZARD

"Sovietmari

During won the Boviet Gover- winter of 1053-54

newapapers

new

eight years' imprisonment the according to Article 187 of particular, Soviet the Code..

Encouragement

ས་

`ment" aaw no way out, but to were compelled to reveal cases of ordinary murder.

extend capital punishment to 4 mumber of instances illustrating the low level of Soviet zorality.

November, 1089 Kom-

somolikiga Pravda, organ of tha'

Such a mild punishment You Communist Langue, The

Prefext

official

announcement

by Western standards a published the story of a gang of reintroducing the death penalty for the most heinous, of degenerate young thump, who for murderers enld the decision crimes proved

pat: stolen money on drinking had been taken in - Temporisp open encouragement to of their axyrtimintance. Vinkan. Labile" Organizations”. Practis an albsts and making mexry. Wibes ane te She, uniqueast of citizens and

murtër, and in 1947 legis ed dd, betray; tasir tition had to be th

cally the HBALI, WEE

that the

A PRODUCH BARNE COMIM CHISONS ALONG

FALLS TOWARD THE RI

יו,'

By Frank Robbins

10

WEEK.

The "College" where

a betting man

learns most.

Can Manel

(un)

June