A BATCH OF DERBY CHARGES.

At the Winning Post, Eve of the Derby 1870
By W. Simpson
Image courtesy of Bourne Hall Museum .

The Illustrated Police News – 02 June 1883

At the Epsom Petty Sessions, on Thursday, last week,  before the Earl of Egmont and other magistrates, there  was a list of fifty-six prisoners in custody on charges  arising out of the Derby Day.—  Joseph Smith was  charged with stealing a silver watch, of the value of  25s., the property of John Edward Vaughan, a gentleman  living at 7, Vincent-gardens. “At hall-past four  the prisoner hustled the prosecutor as he was passing  between Barnard’s Stand and the Grand Stand, and on  looking down he saw his chain hanging down, and his  watch in the prisoner’s hand. The watch was not  recovered. Prisoner was sentenced to three mouths’  hard labour. — Hyam Hyams pleaded guilty to a charge  of gambling, He was on the Downs holding up a tin  containing tickets alleged to be prizes, and a detective  saw over thirty persons purchase blanks.  A previous  conviction for the same offence was proved against  him and he was sentenced to hard labour for twenty one  days. — George Edward Smith pleaded guilty  to a charge of gambling with a dolly and table.  A constable said the prisoner could make the  marble stay wherever he liked, and the Bench  passed sentence of three months’ hard labour. — John Thompson, convicted of gambling with a  ‘spinning jenny’  was sentenced to twenty-one days  hard labour. — Charles Reid and Edward Davis were  charged with being on the racecourse supposed for the  purpose of committing a felony. On the way to the  station. Davis threatened to knife the officer. Eight  previous convictions wore proved against Davis, who  was sentenced to three months hard labour, and Reid:  to three weeks. — Thomas Williams was charged with  stealing a watch, of the value of £5, the property of  Mr. O’Meara, at present staying at the Grand Hotel,  Charing-cross, The watch was not recovered. A  sentence of six months’ hard labour was passed.  —  Augustus Lyons and George Parry were charged by  Detective Scandrutt, of Bow-street, with being on the  Downs as suspected persons supposed on the purpose  of committing a felony. They were awarded twenty one  days hard labour. — Henry Ward and John H.  Smith. were similarly charged by Detective Church, of  the C Division, Ward denied that he had been previously  convicted, and was remanded, Smith was sentenced  to three months hard labour.—John Patrick  Carr was charged with stealing from Clement  Russell, of 10, Findhorn-place, Edinburgh and at  present staying at the Great Western Hotel, Paddington;  a purse containing  five sovereigns. He strenuously  denied the charge, but was committed for trial. — William Walker was charged with gambling with a  spinning jenny, and sentenced to twenty-one days hard  labour.—George Hughes and George Osborne were  charged with being suspected persons, loitering on  the course for the purpose of committing a felony, and  were sentenced to twenty-one days hard labour. — Frederick Morris, similarly charged, was also sentenced  to twenty-one days. — Charles Riding was charged with gambling by means of the three card trick. — Charles  Taverner was adjudged three months hard labour for attempting to pick pockets. — For gambling with dice,  Edward Stanton was sentenced to twenty-one days.  — Philip Harris, a mere lad, was charged by- Detective  Rolfe with stealing 3s. 2d. from the ticket pocket of a  person unknown. Prisoner made a long speech in defence,  and was convicted of being a suspected person and sentenced  to twenty-one days hard labour. — Annie Gray, a  stylishly-dressed woman, was charged with gambling  by means of a roulette table, Detective Sewell, of  Croydon, said he was on the Downs at half-past four,  and saw the prisoner standing in front of a table, upon  which there was a piece of American cloth having:  horses painted on it in red and white. She was betting  2 to 1 on the white horses, and underneath the table  was a lever, by which she could make the indicator  stop where she chose. He took her into custody with  the assistance of Detective Scandrutt, and when  searched, over £4 was found on her. She was winning  every: time. Prisoner’s defence was that she was minding the table for a “lady.” A detective of the  N Division said the prisoner was connected with a gang of swindlers and horse-copers* in London, who advertised horses for sale, received a deposit, and swindled  the people out of their money. She had been several times in custody, and flash notes had been found upon  her, but she had never been convicted. The Chairman :  Then she will receive her first conviction now. The  sentence is twenty-one days hard labour.

*horse-coper : a horse dealer usually a dishonest one