DETECTION OF A FRA UD. 263 



nothing would be gained by the uninteresting infor- 

 mation ; and it would only add pain to innocent and 

 respectable persons in other ways connected with the 

 plotters, whilst the culprits themselves have long 

 since passed away to the shady region of oblivion. 

 The story runs thus : Mr. A., then training in the 

 country, had just received with much pleasure the 

 report of a successful trial of his horse, G. P., that 

 morning, for the Chester Cup, in which race he was 

 entered, and leniently treated by the handicapper, and 

 in turf phraseology was thought a good thing. Mr. 

 Swindell executed the commission, and put a large 

 stake on him, which, however, made him little or no 

 better favourite. This naturally excited his sus- 

 picions, as it would have done a much less confiding 

 mind. He felt sure there was an undercurrent at 

 work, which he could not fathom. He expressed his 

 doubts, and requested his friend to go and see the 

 trainer at once. This the other did not like to do, 

 but said : 



' If you will go, I will accompany you, but not 

 else.' Swindell's antipathy to visiting trainers or 

 seeing horses anywhere but on the racecourse I 

 have named. However, on this occasion he overcame 

 his aversion in the interest of truth and justice, and 

 went. A telegram announced that in the afternoon 

 they might be expected, and would like to see the 

 horses. After exchamnno' common civilities and a 

 few words of a general character on their arrival, they 



