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thousand pounds in the course of an hour。 According to his own
account； the witness told the gentleman of this trick； and the
following morning the latter went with him； to know if this
nefarious dealing has been truly represented。
On entering the library they met Walker； who wished them better
success； but trembled visibly。 At the door leading into the room
porters were stationed； and； as soon as they entered； Walker
ordered it to be bolted； for the sake of privacy； but as soon as
the gentleman ascended the dark staircase； he became alarmed at
the appearance of men in the room； and returned to the porter；
and； by a timely excuse； was allowed to pass。
At this table Clarke generally dealt； and O'Mara played。 It was
for not restoring the L100 to the firm that the charge of
felony was laid against the witnessafter the escape of the
gentleman； but an offer of L100 was made to him； after
his imprisonment； if he would not give his evidence of the
above facts and transactions。
The evidence of the other witness； Ford； confirmed all the
material facts of the former； and the gentleman himself； the
intended victim； substantiated the evidence of Wrightas to
putting him in possession of their nefarious designs。
When the gentleman found that he had been cheated of the L125；
he went to Walker to demand back his money。 Walker； in the
utmost confusion； went into the room； and returned with a
proposal to allow L100。 This he declined to take； and
immediately laid the information before Mr Sergeant Runnington。
The learned Sergeant forcibly recapitulated the evidence； and
declared that in the whole course of his professional duties he
had never heard such a disclosure of profligacy and villainy；
combined with every species of wickedness。 In a strain of
pointed animadversion he declared it to be an imperative duty；
however much his private feelings might be wounded in seeing a
reputable tradesman of the town convicted of such nefarious
pursuits；to order warrants to be issued against all parties
concerned as rogues and vagrants。
At the next hearing of the case the court was crowded to
excess； and the mass of evidence deposed before the magistrates
threw such a light on the system of gambling； that they summarily
put a stop to the Cobourg and Loo tables at the various public
establishments。
At the first examination； the ‘gentleman' before mentioned； a Mr
Mackenzie； said he had played _Rouge et Noir_ at Walker's； and
had lost L125。 He saw O'Mara there； but he appeared as a
player； not a banker； the only reason for considering him as one
of the proprietors of the table； arose from the information of
the witnesses Wright and Ford。
On this evidence； Mr Sergeant Runnington called on O'Mara and
Walker for their defence； observing that； according to the
statements before him； there appeared sufficient ground for
considering O'Mara as a rogue and vagabond； and for subjecting Mr
Walker to penalties for keeping a house or room wherein he
permitted unlawful games to be played。 O'Mara affirmed that the
whole testimony of Wright and Ford with respect to him was false；
that he had been nine years a resident housekeeper in Brighton；
and was known by； and had rendered essential services to；
many respectable individuals who lived in the town； and to many
noble persons who were occasional visitors。 He seemed deeply
penetrated by the intimation that he could be whipped； or
otherwise treated as a vagabond； and said； that if time were
allowed him to collect evidence； and obtain legal assistance； he
could disprove the charge； or at least invalidate the evidence of
the two accusers。
In consequence of these representations； the case was adjourned
to another day； when； so much was the expectation excited by the
rumour of the affair； that at the opening of the court the hall
was crowded almost to suffocation； and all the avenues were
completely beset。
O'Mara appeared； with his counsel； the celebrated Mr Adolphus
the Ballantyne of his dayof Old Bailey renown and forensic
prowess。
Mr Sergeant Runnington very obligingly stated to Mr Adolphus the
previous proceeding； directed the depositions to be laid before
him； and allowed him time to peruse them。 Mr Adolphus having
gone through the document； requested that the witnesses might be
brought into court； that he might cross…question them separately；
which being ordered； Wright was first put forwardthe man
who had received the L100； enlightened the Mr Mackenzie； and
who was charged with feloniously stealing the above amount。
After the usual questions； very immaterial in the present case；
but answered； the witness went on to say that； O'Mara called at
his lodgings and said； if he （Wright） could not persuade Mr
Mackenzie to come from London； he was not to leave him； but write
to him （O'Mara）； and he would go to town； and win all his money。
He had； on a former occasion； told the witness； that he could win
all Mackenzie's money at child's playthat he could toss up and
win ninety times out of one hundred； he had told both him and
Ford； that if they met with any gentleman who did not like the
game of _Rouge et Noir_； and would bring them to his house； he
was always provided with cards； dice； and backgammon tables； to
win their money from them。
The learned counsel then cross…questioned the witness as to
various matters； in the usual way； but tending； of course； to
damage him by the answers which the questions necessitateda
horrible； but； perhaps； necessary ordeal perpetuated in our law…
procedure。 In these answers there was something like
prevarication； so that the magistrate； Mr Sergeant Runnington；
asked the witness at the close of the examination； whether he had
any previous acquaintance with the gentlemen who had engaged him
at half…a…crown a game； and then so candily communicated to him
all their schemes？ He said； none whatever。 ‘But；' said the
Sergeant； ‘you were in the daily habit of playing at this public
table for the purpose of deceiving the persons who might come
there？' The witness answered‘I was。'
The witness Ford fared no better in the cross…examination； and Mr
Sergeant Runnington； at its close； asked him the same question
that he had addressed to Wright； respecting his playing at the
table； and received the same answer。
Mr Mackenzie did not appear； and there was no further evidence。
Mr Adolphus said that if he were called upon to make any defence
for his client upon a charge so supported； he was ready to do it；
but； as he must make many observations； not only on the facts；
but on the _LAW_； he was anxious if possible to avoid doing so；
as he did not wish to say too much about the law respecting
gaming before so large and mixed an audience。＇72＇
＇72＇ See Chapter XI。 for the views of Mr Adolphus here
alluded to。
Two witnesses were called； who gave evidence which was
damaging to the character of Fo