The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-29
Likely 10 Be Prosecuted for
Cruelty TO a Horse.
INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS.
Jockey Simms, Accompanied by Cro-
ker, Drove the Beast to Death.
Henry Labouchere and Jerome X.
Jerome Call the Attention of the
= +. c. A to the Tamnany Leader,
jerome Incidentally Referring TO
Tammany RascalIty.

London, June 9S-Tf certain reports trrr
out to be correct, and there seems 10 ne
no reason for doubling them. Mr. Richard
Croker's colored jockey. Willie Smms is
liable 20 find himself in the hottest kind
of hot water. Simms has been amusing
himself considerably of late at Newman
k2t, and on Monday. june II. wagered he
could drive trotter from Newmarket 10
Cambridge and return within an hour.
total distance of about twenty-six miles.
Sinlms started in a suiky with compan-
ion, and made Cambridge n'quiek time.
but when nearing Newmarket on the re-
turn the horse dropped dead. and IL is prob
able that Simms will be arrested and Sc
yereiy punished. as the result of an inves-
tigation into the affair which the officers
of the Society for the Prevention of Cruel
" 90 Animals began today.
A special officer of the society was dis
patched TO Newmarket this afternoon with
Instructions 10 thoroughly investigate the
story of Simms' drive TO Cambridge. and
If the story of cruelty TO the trotter is
proven a warrant for the Jockeys arrest
will be issued
The officer has been instructed TO find
out If the companion of Simns In his drive
was Mr.. Croker himself. and IL this should
turn out TO be the case there may he seri-
Gus trouble in store for Mr. Croker as well
as for Simms.
The action of the s. r. G. 4. was
due to Jerome K. Jerome and Mr.. La
bouchers. The latter says in Truth:
After reading an account of the perform
ance / expected to announce that Simms
had brought an action for libel or had
been fined the heaviest penalty for such
diabolical conduct. No punishment is
too bad for man who would fog a
horse TO death, and | would cheerfuily
see Simms logged along the road and
made to run until he dropped dead" Mr..
Labouchera's article concluded with call
ing upon the s. p. C. A. TO thoroughly
investigate the matter.
Mr.. Jerome In a newspaper today writes
that he had sent the details of the affair
to the S. p. C. A, adding: tSimms is
a half-caste who has come TO England
for pure gambling speculation. He is
employed by Messrs. Croker and Dwyer.
concerning whom ii is sufficient 20 remark
that MIR. Croker was once prominently
connected with that gang of rascality-
Tammany Hail."
Mr. Croker was not In London today.
but the representative of the Associated
Press who was sent to Interview him
was informed that the story was substan-
TALLY true, except that there was no cruel
~ 10 the horse. II was added that the
horse which belonged 10 Mr.. Croker was
one of the last batch to arrive from
Litchfieid and its death Is attributed 10
lack of condition I'D not TO overdriving
on the part of Simms In the race against
time from Newmarket to Cambridge and
back.
Richard Croker returned to town this
evening and was indignant when he learn
ed of the publication in today's Sun and
Truth Sims will sue the Sun for 10000
damages. Mr.. Croker has addressed the
following letter to Henry Labouchere. ell
itor Of Truth;
"Appreciating the worldwide reputa-
ton you have for fairness, am surprised
at the paragraph in the present issue OF
Truth, with reference to Jockey Simms
having driven horse 10 death. As the
owner Of the horse, permit me to state
the facts You quote from the Sun
statement entirely erroneous. Simms did
not drive the horse on that occasion.
drove him. and there was no wager
Simms drove another horse into Cam
bridge at the same time. both being
my property. We left Newmarket at
$50 a. m, and reached Cambridge at
10.s5. the distance being about thirteen
or fourteen miles. The horse that died
was driven back toward Newmarket in
a walk dying en- route. On the way 10
Cambridge the animal slipped a shoe. and
I think a piece of flint caught in the hoof,
causing lockjaw. The horse was shod
al Cambridge, and at the time showed no
signs of approaching death. He was a
good horse, equal to the task of travelling
the distance from Newmarket to Cam
bridge I'm much better time II forced.
This horses record in America was 2:l3'3
rof a mile. Simms was unaware OF the
publication In the Sun until Truth
brought II to his attention.