TOD SLOAN 



my retainer at my repeated urgent requests, although 

 for a long time Lord William would not consent. 



There is the story in as much detail as it is 

 wise to indulge in of how I thought I had been 

 made the victim of an assault and of how I replied 

 to it. I still think I should have been justified in 

 doing something a bit stronger. I would ask fair 

 judgment on this, for I have stated the case without 

 the slightest exaggeration and without excusing my- 

 self. Those who read this can ask themselves what 

 they would do in similar circumstances. I am not a 

 giant and didn't know exactly how far those two 

 intended to go. There had been one or two instances 

 before when I had been hustled rather badly on rail- 

 way platforms ; at one time indeed I was nearly going 

 down under the engine. There are other things too 

 which happened which it is needless to bring up after 

 so many years. That warning of George Chaloner's, 

 however, was significant. 



As I have said, every other person who discussed 

 the incident had his own version. About four years 

 afterwards I was down at Maidenhead at a cottage 

 occupied by the late Major " Jim " Hill. There were 

 one or two other men there too. A knock came at the 

 door and a police officer came in saying he was in a bit 

 of trouble, for a present of coal and w^ood and one or 

 two other little things which Major (then Capt.) Hill 

 had given him had been found out, and he was likely 

 to be called over the coals (no pun intended). Jim 

 Hill said that the present was no bribe ; it had just 

 been a little gift to the man's wife and children, for he 

 took an interest in the latter. 



The officer was then asked to have a drink, and the 

 men began to draw him out about different little 

 things and got on to the topic of racing. The " Cop " 



172 



