Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-02-12
FRAUD AND LYING.
THE DAM OF THE MORSE HORSE.

In our last issue. under the head of
Harris liambletonian'' we published an
interview with Alonzo Hyde, ESQ. of
Middletown, VT, in which he states nos
itively that Jack Williams of Middletown
never had that horse, nor had ANYTHING
to do with him except one season. that Of
1916 or 1917, one of the last years of the
horses life. Mr.. Hyde gives dates and
circumstances which make this statement
conclusive, and it is also sustained bv
other, and very intelligent witnesses.
I'm the light of these facts we will ex-
anime the pedigree of the Morse Horse
as recorded by Mr.. Wallace. In vol. 4.
among the Standard Horses, appears No.
q: "Morse Horse, (4) gr. h., foaled 1884:
got by European (McNitt Horse) dam.
Beck, by IIambletonian, ,; g. d. MOI
"a by Peacock, son of Imp. Messen-
ger. Bred by James McNitt; passed
through several hands to Calvin Morse.
(See vol. 3D.
Ihls is substantially the same as pub
liShed in vol. 3. This statement. so far
as 1t relates to the dam, is two lies i'm one.
Tor there is not a particle of evidence
that Peacock was IA son of Messenger.
but, on the contrary, from his descrip-
ton it is almost impossible that he could
have been; and there is nothing what
ever tending to show that this mare Beck
was by Harris Hambletonan. as stated.
yet for seven years this double falsehood
has been doing the work for which il
was designed
In discussing this question in his mag
azne vol. l., p. 757) Mr.. Wallace has
the following extraordinary matter:
but the great question in the pedigree
Is. what was the sire of Beck. the dam of
the Morse horse ? Hitherto. it has gen
orally been stated that she was by Og-
den's Messenger, and in the 'Trotting
Register we have followed that version.
Since our recent investigations have COM
menced. we have found it claimed by
some that she was by Bishops Hamble-
tohian, and we are free to say we expect
ed it would come out that way, but the
evidence is circumstantial and quite con-
elusive that she was by Harris HANDLE
tonian. The sire of Beck was in charge
of John Williams, Jr.. or Jack Will
liams, as he was generally known. With
the points established that her sire was
kept by Williams, and was called Ham,
bletonian, we had something to start up
Iptprn1inn N-hi
was. Mr.. Alonzo Hyde of Middletown.
VT, writes that he knew Jack Williams
from his childhood, and that he also
knew the Harris 1ambletonian well. and
was the first to see him after he was
foaled. This was the Hambletonian that
was in charge of Williams one or more
of his first seasons, and this was the
horse that got Beck. Mr.. Hyde mani
tests very extensive and accurate knowl-
edge of the Harris Horse. and knowing
this, we are disposed to give entire ere
dence to his representations on the his
torical point in question"
In this article two points are especially
noticeable:
rHHl lie assertions made without
qualification by Mr.. Wallace himself.
that this was the HambletOnan that
was in charge of Williams one or more
of his first seasons; and this was the
horse that got Beck; assertions neces-
Sary TO the manufacturing of the pedi-
gree. but both sheer fabricatonS and
Second. His attempt to throw the re-
spon>ibility of these statements upon
another.
When Mr.. Hyde was told that he was
represented rs making these statements.
he was amazed, and said there was not
word of truth in them.
There is one conclusion fairly and OBJ
viouSly to be drawn from such work as
thS: That there is not single pedigree
in Mr.. Wallace'S books. recorded upon
his authority, that is reliable. \ man
who makes such gross misstatements
once may do it every time. and will do it
whenever the motive is strong enough:
and his work ceases To be of authority.
and sooner or later falls into universal
and deserved contempt.