Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-13
EXPULSION OF LEE PAUL.
Reply of the Officers of the Nashville
blood Horse Association to Maj. B.
G. Thomas.

Reply of the Officers of the Nashville
Blood Horse Association to Maj. B.
G. Thomas.
From the Turf, Field and Farm.
NASHVILLE, Feb. l, 1S72.-At the an
nual meeting of the Nashville Blood Horse
Association, held Jan. IA, 1872, letter
from the pen of Maj. B. G. Thomas, of
Lexington, KY, which appeared in the
Turf, Field and Farm Of Jan. 8, 1872, ad-
dressed to the Turfmen of Tennessee, re-
lative to the expulsion Of Lee Paul from
the Nashville Course at the Fall meeting,
1871, was read, which communication, in
consideration of the high and honorable
position of its author, the Association
deemed proper to have answered. We, the
undersigned, were therefore, appointed a
committee to discharge that duty. In
doing so, we would premise by stating that
the high opinion we entertain of Maj. I.
would preclude the idea of our Intentionally
saving anything that could give offence to
him. He, no doubt, was actuated by the
kindest motives, and tender sympathy for
a Door, afflicted man. But we can but
think that his opinion in regard to the guilt
| or innocence of the unfortunate man, as
well as his charge Of the injustice OF the de-
| cision by which he was expelled, must have
| been formed from the ex parte testimony OF
| the accused. We are satisfied that he had
not made himself acquainted with the
| facts of the case or he would
| never have penned or addressed to
| the public the paragraph in which he
! declares chat this innocent man has been
| suspected, accused, tried, condemned, and
sentenced by the Nashville Association
without an iOta of direct testimony" And
| it is somewhat remarkable that Maj.
! Thomas would utter such paragraph after
expressing such confidence in the officers OF
| the Nashville Association as be did IN the
beginning of his letter. How much better
and more appropriate it would have been
| for Mai. T. to have written to the officers
! of this Association for the facts IN this case.
| Also made an appeal to them for reopen
ing of the same before publicly charging
them with having so cruelty punished a
! poor, afflicted and innocent man.
We can but think that the worthy Major
was too hasty, and perhaps incopsiderate IN
! this matter, which action his good judg-
ment and sense Of justice will repair
upon more mature reflection. In regard to
| this race there was but one opinion IN the
| stand, and as far as we know no dissenting
| voice among the hundreds Of intelligent
gentlemen in the Grand Stand. Believing
! Major Thomas as much disposed to rid the
turf of fraud and all improper conduct as
any of us, we are sure that had he been
present and conversant with the facts OF
this case he would have been among the
! last to declare our decision unjust, or to ask
for the reinstatement of Paul, as he states
in his communication. We therefore deem
! it only necessary to present the facts OF this
| case patent to the officers of the stand, as
well as to every intelligent tuTfnan pres
ent, as follows:
| Previous to the race in question, which
was mile heats, three in five, the horse Bob
! Shelton, IN the possession Of and controlled
by Lee Paul, was largely the favorite. The
| first two heats were run in slow time, but
| Shelton was at no time in either OF them
near to the front. This fact surprised many
who were acquainted with the speed OF the
horse: but others, more shreWd, who had bet
| their money, Suspecting that a fraud was
about to be perpetrated, began to hedge
their bets, at the same time suggested their
| suspicious to the officers of the stand. The
riders we're mounted and the drum tapped for
| the third heat. Before half the distance was
run, Bob Shelton wasa long way behind, and
| il was evident to the stand that the horse was
ls
| certainly being pulled, and he was doubly
distanced in 1853. We think he was beaten
100 wards, which would make his time at
! least 200. And vet Lee Paul, in the face
of these damaging facts, (to him. made no
| complaint of his rider to the officers of the
| stand. These facts were sufficient to have
justified his expulsion; but, in order to
make the proof palpable and beyond cavil,
| a. of;o or, for fba faar of dOinO iniustice
| took charge of the horse after the third heat,
had him properly cooled out, and at the
proper time mounted by the most ex-
pert Jockey on the course, (BroWnle,) who
! was directed by the President to run the
horse Ito him the fourth heat) to his fun
| capacity, which he did in 1:4St. The
! quickest heat in the race. Thus the honest
! horse in whom there is no guile or decel {,
and is ever the poor mans friend, is made
to convict his fraudulent owner. What
| better evidence could be required? Could
human testimony make it any stronger
What more proof needed to JUSTIFY the
verdict of the stand?
| Phe officers of this association are de-
termined by all means at their command 10
break down collision and fraud on their
course. Yet they hope never to do 50 at
the expense of Justice; but if fraud, (palp-
| able and plain as in the case under consider
alton. is not to be punished upon such evil
! dence, then we ask how is the reformation
| of the abuses and dishonest triekery OF the
! turf to be effected?
VIII. JOHNSON, President.
w. G. HARDING, Vice President.
! .BECHEATHAM, Vice-President.
l B. F. CoCKRLL, Nice-President.