326 KINGSCLERE 



is voted the pick of the handicap, and strong in their belief 

 in the old formula that Sir Joseph Scratchhawley always 

 goes straight and gives a run for your money, the public 

 put down their coin, rush deliberately into the lion's jaws, 

 and pour their money into the caps of those who have been 

 "put in to lay? Those who love a good horse, however he 

 may be weighted, back Blackleg at fair prices. Suddenly 

 a suspicion begins to dawn, and the knowing ones get on 

 Sir Joseph Scratchhawley's lot, including Pickpocket, and not 

 a day too soon. The pails are full of Swindlerite and 

 Blackleg milk, the market begins to be agitated, Pickpocket 

 comes hot in the betting, and Swindlerite and Blackleg are 

 scratched. 



c . . . If Sir Joseph Scratchhawley knew that Pickpocket 

 was the best of his lot, he ought to have scratched the 

 others as soon as he arrived at that knowledge, and not 

 have left them in order that Messrs. Saltfish and Bloater 

 might operate against them. 



1 The bloody hand on his escutcheon is emblematic of 

 the victims who have fallen, not in actual strife, but from 

 the stab of the Stable Commissioner, and it will be many 

 a long year before even the spurious popularity he once 

 enjoyed will be restored to him.' 



COMMITTAL AND IMPRISONMENT OF DR. SHORTHOUSE. — 

 'ARGUS'S' SPITE 



The libel on Sir Joseph Hawley appeared in the 

 1 Sporting Times' in November 1869. The week succeed- 

 ing its appearance the editor, Dr. Shorthouse, in reference 

 to it, said : ' In this journal on Saturday last there appeared 

 an article reflecting in the most unwarrantable manner 

 upon the character and conduct of Sir Joseph Hawley. 

 The writing and publication of that article were entirely 

 without our knowledge, and its tone without our sympathy, 

 and we read it with surprise and disgust. We neither 

 knew that such an article was contemplated, had been 

 written, or was intended to be published in these columns, 

 or we should have interdicted it. We were indisposed last 

 week, and did not " mount guard " on Friday evening at 



