[crashryan]

Panther, what irks me about the story is that the hero, Jack, doesn't learn anything from his experiences. When hot-headed Harry is believed to have murdered a man, Jack is interested not in determining the truth or giving Harry a fair trial. Jack covers for him because Harry is his beloved's brother. When Jack fights O'Rourke he still doesn't know O'Rourke was the real killer. He fights O'Rourke because O'Rourke is a bounder who pressured Harry into forcing Caroline to marry the villainous Irishman. Apparently duelling is illegal, because "there will be trouble" for Jack over killing O'Rourke. Instead of manfully facing the consequences Jack decides to skip town until the whole thing blows over. His family, his new wife, and his hangers-on agree that's a great idea and cheer Jack's keeping his property and protecting his inheritance. Even Lord Barrymore, a cheat and a thorough scoundrel, isn't put on trial for his misdeeds. He loses his fortune, and that's what is important. We're obviously supposed to feel sympathy, even respect, for Jack, but I'm not buying.

You're right about scapegoating the Gypsies. This happens in other Thriller Library adaptations.

Wikipedia says "Ben Bolt" was the pen name of one Ottwell Binns (1872-1935), who published a raft of novels both as Bolt and under his own name. He started writing in 1917 and must have created a backlog because his novels continued appearing for four years after his death.

Link to the book: Thriller Comics 039 - Gay Corinthian