Probably no professional billiard player has experienced so chequered and varied a spell of fortune as that which fell to Melbourne Inman, the present champion of English billiards, during the week ending February 22. Whilst at the top of his form against W. J. Peall on the Wednesday afternoon, he received disquieting news on the telephone from a medical man as to the state of his wife's health (Mrs. Inman being at that time in a nursing home); when he reached his house at night he found that he had been robbed of £500 worth of presentation jewellery; but when Saturday came round he was just able, notwithstanding setbacks that would have floored most men, to complete the giant task that he had given himself of scoring 24,000 points during 24 sessions, and in doing so to win from the elder Peall the same money value that his enterprising manservant had walked off with. He conceded Peall half the game and the final scores were:—Inman, 24,000; Peall, 23,880; so that not only had Inman to average 1,000 points per session, but he had also to sit down what time his opponent was making close on half the same number.
Ponder this, ye amateurs, who sometimes hold up the table for well on towards an hour in scoring a hundred.
The robbery to which we have referred included the theft of the diamond sapphire horse-shoe pin won at the championship last year against Reece, and a fur overcoat worth between £50 and £40. It took place at 6.30 on the evening of the 19th at Inman's house at St. John's, Grange Road, Gunnersbury. A relative was in a bedroom on the first floor, twelve yards from the front bedroom, where the jewellery was secured in a drawer in the dressing-table, which was opened by a false key. The stolen property includes fifteen rings, including a diamond marquise ring, four half-hoop diamond rings, a diamond cluster ring, a half-hoop cluster ring, another with yellow stones and sapphires, and others with a half-hoop of rubies, half-hoop of sapphires, diamond and turquoise, one set with a large single stone diamond, and another with diamonds and emeralds, gipsy gold bracelet, chain bracelet, pearl bracelet, gold bow brooch, antique paste brooch, pair of gipsy earrings, earrings of turquoise and sapphires, diamond sleeve links, gold dress chains, diamond, sapphire, cat's eye, and cluster pins, one in the shape of a horse-shoe set with diamonds, gold lever watch.
The wanted man-servant is described as being aged 21 years, height 5ft, 6in. or 7in., complexion and hair fair, eyes blue, clean shaven, thick build, a German known as "Joan," and wearing a blue serge suit and dark grey cap.
He was recommended to Inman as a man of high testimonials.