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QUEER RINGING CASE IN AUSTRALIA. During the week finality was reached in the now famous Xylite case, and in the matter of Vera Cleary, or, as she came to be known, "the mysterious woman in black." who was charged with having conspired with A. Arnold and another person to obtain money by fraudulent means from the manager of the Albion Park Jockey Club aud certain bookmakers on the Albion Park course in October last. The department of justice has decided that no true bill shall be filed. In a quarter of a century no racing case created such interest in Brisbane as did this one of the alleged ringing of this horse. Arnold arrived in Brisbane from Sydney at the end of September with a black gelding, which he stnted was Xylite. The gelding was nominated for the meeting at Albion Iark on October 16, and it is said was described as a four-year-old and a maiden. He was accordingly handicapped at 116 for the Fourth Division of the Division Handicap, and on the day of the meeting took his place in the field. No one seemed to have any idea of the ability of the gelding except those interested in him. and the opening quotation for him when betting was commenced was 5 to 1. The operations in the ring of an attractive-looking woman in black first attracted attention among the public, but the busy ringmen did not pay anything more than ordinary attention, and so cooly did she do her work that she alone placed a big commission all around the ring at 4 to 1 and 5 to 1, and it was not till after the racing when she was hurriedly collecting the amounts realized that her big wagering was appreciated. In all it is estimated that she took just on ,000 out of the ring in cash bets. It was the easy manner in which the gelding won that aroused the suspicion of the officials, with the result that an inspection of the geldings teeth was made, and it was found to be a six-year-old. Arnold was called before the stewards, but not being believers in the saying of "Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today," the stipendiary stewards following a practice they have long been noted for. of opening a case and postponing it till the following Monday. Arnold was told to appear at the Queensland Turf Club office on Monday. In the meantime the lady in black had collected all her money and decamped in a motor car. Arnold must have been in high glee as he left the stewards room with the request to appear on Monday. But Arnold never came, and from that day to this his whereabouts have never been traced, nor have those of the "other person" mentioned in the charge. The matter was placed in the hands of the police, and the fact was soon established that Arnold and the lady in black crossed into New South Wales on the day after Xylite won. Arnold was never traced, but Vera Cleary "the lady in black" apparently did not make any serious attempt to hide her whereabouts, and the New South Wales police soon had her under their eye. They arrested her, and when this became known it was a general opinion that for various reasons such a move was a big mistake. Anyhow, the others could not be traced, and the woman was brought before the court and charged as above, and subsequently remanded to Brisbane. A long trial followed in the police court here, and several witnesses were brought from New South Wales, and weighty evidence was adduced that the gelding which raced as Xylite was identical with I.lacklock, a noted performer at the meetings of the Associated Clubs in Sydney, and then under disqualification. Vera Cleary was commited for trial at the criminal sittings of the supreme court to be held on Monday next, and allowed bail in two sureties of 00 each. The police court evidence was then considered in the usual way by the department of justice, and. as has been generally anticipated all along, the department announced on Friday that there was no case against her. and no true bill would be filed accordingly. The horse is still in the hands of the authorities, and no one is willing to claim the ownership of the animal Brisbane Correspondent in Sydney Referee of March 1.
