BILLIARD-MARKER WHO PLAYED VOLUNTEER SNOOKER
Liverpool Echo, Thursday 11 June 1914
MISSED HIS CUES.
A case of interest to habitues of billiard saloons was heard at Dale-street Police Court, this morning, before the stipendiary, when a man named Angus Scott Campbell, described as a billiard-marker, was charged with stealing two billiard cues, the property of Messrs. J. Ashcroft and Company, billiard table manufacturers.
According to the evidence for the prosecution, prisoner had been in charge of billiard tables and equipment belonging to the company at the Carlton Restaurant, Eberle-street, and when he left three months ago the cues were missed. They were subsequently found pawned in his name at Glasgow.
Evidence was given by Mr. J. Ashcroft as to the cues.
Prisoner (to witness).—Didn’t you on March 14 write saying you had nothing against me?
Mr. Ashcroft.—You wrote for a character, I remember, and I replied; but I didn’t know then about these cues.
Prisoner denied stealing the cues. He said that one was given him by a Frenchman and the other by a man who was in his debt to the extent of 24s. He did not know the name of either.
The stipendiary examined one of the cues. He remarked that it did not seem straight, and suggested it was for playing around corners (laughter).
Surprise was expressed by the stipendiary that prisoner could not remember the name of the man who owed him 24s. “Are you,” he asked, “in the habit of lending money to men you don’t know?”
Prisoner.—Not exactly that.
The Stipendiary.—You are a Scotchman, are you not (laughter)?—Yes, sir, I am. But I did not lend this money; I won it at volunteer snooker.
Do you often earn money at volunteer snooker? —Oh, yes; it is very easily earned (laughter).
The Stipendiary.—If there is any doubt about the cues we can adjourn the case so that Mr. Ashcroft can post a notice in the restaurant asking the people who are said to have given you the cues to come forward.
Prisoner.— It is the quiet season now.
Eventually the stipendiary decided to convict, and prisoner was sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment.