NEW BETTING SYSTEM.

MAJOR’S AMAZING STORY.

What has been described as an amazing story of human credulity was continued at the Marylebone Police-court yesterday at the remand hearing of a prosecution against Maudsley John Dudley, commission agent, of Spanish-place-mansions, W.; Alfred Dean, independent, of Curzon-street, W.; and James Brennan, professional backer of horses, of Warrington-gardens, W., on a charge of conspiring with a fourth man, Ernest Rhodes, to obtaining £2,000 and £300 by fraud from Major Ballantyne Alexander Large, a shipbroker, of 23, Longridge-road, Earl’s-court.

Mr. Herbert Muskett, solicitor, prosecuted; Mr. Huntly Jenkins defended Dudley, and Mr. Turrell and Mr. King were counsel for Dean and Brennan.

Major Large, continuing his story, stated that on July 27 Brennan called for him at the De Vere Hotel in a motor-car and drove him and Rhodes to Goodwood. On the course they met Dudley, who explained that he and Brennan would be busy in Tattersall’s Ring. After the second race Dudley came out and said he had backed a horse for Rhodes, and the witness and they had won £500 each. Witness said he had not authorised the transaction, and having thanked Dudley he told him he did not wish to invest any further money in racing. Just before the Stewards Cup was run Major Large said he ascertained from a bookmaker that the price of Ptah was 20 to 1, and having mentioned the fact to Dudley he said it was very strange the price should have altered to that extent, seeing that his voucher showed only 14 to 1. Dudley seemed very excited, said the market had all gone wrong; he was unable to lay the money off, and they all stood to lose a lot of money.

Mr. Muskett: Did Ptah win? – No, it didn’t. Rhodes seemed very upset and said he could not afford to lose £9,000 like that. After one of the races Dudley came running up to Rhodes and witness on the lawn, and , apologising for not having been able to find them before the race, said he had backed a horse in the race then running for £1,500 for both Rhodes and witness, because he felt responsible for their losses and it would pull them out. Witness demurred, but Rhodes seemed quite pleased Major Large said he did not know the name of the horse, but it lost, and Dudley said, “Now you owe £1,000.”

About Sept. 10 the major said he called at Spanish-place-mansions in response to a telephone message. Dudley said he felt responsible for witness’s losses at Goodwood, and as a unique opportunity had arisen concerning racing in Paris, he had decided to let him into the business so that he could square up the losses. A certain horse, he said, had been kept for a certain race in Paris and it was arranged that the horse should win. He could not divulge the name, but it would win at not less than 6 to 1, and he and his friends were investing thousands of pounds. He then offered to allow witness to invest £500, but said he could not possibly allow more. The major replied that he had not the money, but in the result he gave Dudley a cheque for £300.

Mr. Muskett: You hadn’t learnt your lesson? – No.

Dudley explained that it was a cash transaction made with French bookmakers. On Sept. 13 Major Large said he crossed with Rhodes to France, and having met Dudley, they travelled to Paris. Next day they attended a racecourse outside Paris. Dudley refused to divulge the name of the horse he had referred to until it went to the post, but as four horses were passing the stand he pointed to one as Dawn and said that was the horse on which witness’s money had been invested and it would win. As a matter of fact it lost – it ran a bad third.