The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-08
POISONING STORY PRoBED.
rRoTTING TURF COURT LNVEsTI-
uxTEs THE ELSIE 8. ATTAIN.

Aakn tho uonru +" NoNtNW - Btctuo
whether strJehnine was administered
Dr,yor vosis's Case OF AueEea Coiluslop.
Tho po0ra OF Review Of the National Trotting
Associotion met yesterday at the Murray Hill
IIoto, Tor ita annual session. and from 10 o'clock
In Tho morning until o'clock in tho evening
us,ened TO disputes and differences among turf.
man growing out OF tho harness racing season
Ir,, sndod. Major p. p. Johnston of kentucky,
the preaIdento OF the association, presided. The
other members present were Vice-Presidon
David bonner Of this city, Col. william Edwards.
President of the Cleveland Driving Park Asso.
o,ation. Frank s. Gorton of Chicago. Treasurer Of
tho American TrottinG Register Association; f.
Rover Of Philadelphia. former President of the
Belmont Park Club, and Charles Damn Palmer,
cx.Mayor of Lowell. Secretary w. II. Gochcr
was IN hand with a docket which promises TO
keen tho board busy during the remainder Of
tho week.
Two of tho most novel cases over presented to
the board came up for review early In the day.
One OF them related to tho alleged poisoning Of
L. III. Harriman's baby trotter Elsie s.. by STAN.
boul, at the Goshen track last August, and tho
testimony introduced brought out q singular
state Of affairs. Horsemon will remember that
Elsie s. went through the Orange county cir.
cult last summer, starting at Middletown. Port
Jervis and Goshen in tho Arden Farms
stakes for two-year.olds and winning every race.
In the fourth heat Of her race at Goshen on Aug.
rs sho trotted TO q record OF 2:24io. The Ally
showed so much speed that 1t was believed she
could win the 81. 800 sweepstakes race, in which
she was to start three days later, against Marcus
Days Limerick and J. Malcolm Forbes's Nova
day, on the same track. Elsie s. became i'll the
night after her first race ut Goshen. and a
veterinarian said that tho trouble was muscle
soreness resulting from too much racing. Sho
recnyered ain ficientlyf IN ar rf In tho NJ bnO raco
on Aug. %, but she was not in good form ana
played no part in the contest.
A short time after the race one of tho Orange
county newspapers printed q sensational story
stating that chemical research showed that
Elsie 8. had been poisoned by means of strych-
nine before starting in tho big sweepstakes.
Owing to tho prominence Of the parties inter-
ested and the amount Of money involved in tho
race, this story created a commotion in the horse
world, but few turfmen believed it to be founded
on fact. Mr.. Hartman. who is the President
Of the Goshen Driving Park and tho owner of
Elsie s., was much annoyed whom the report got
abroad and he caused the matter to be brought
before the Board of Review for investigation
both as to the truth of the charges and rs to tho
papepT man Ht .o of G GSpGfai x Sf%,f frs a. r hHGd pSbi 7 rs| to
fns,. story rSm .G pla The RS.r board w that he got the
man. Mr.. Hartman testified thnt Ryer-
son had acted without his knowledge in
the matter, and contrary to his BELIEF. Ryerson
himself did not put in an appearance. although
he had, been cited, to appear before the board
that Ryerson's absence was duo to tho fact that
he had started to-day for Europe with a string
Of %trotters which he is going to campaign in
Germany and Austria.
A chemical, analysis made by DR.. Ernest J.
Lederle of the New York Board OF Health
istered to Elsie s., but the Hon. Louis Bedeii,
who presented the case for Mr.. Hartman,
the matter analysed it hnd been put there by
somo one for The purpose OF sustaining the story.
He asked the board merely to render decision on
the question whether poison was or was not adj
ministcred to Elsie s., and If tho charge was
found to be Ero%1ndless; then to call upon the
he should not be disciplined. The board re-
served decision.
The case Of the New England Breeders Asso-
citation vs.. Fred Noble took up nearly the en-.
tire afternoon, owing TO the rambling manner
s ST So Of The s s'ory w ss' told an in PTF Gr sGS las No Mon.
day. Secretary c. NJ. Jewctt OF the Breeders
a AssGeia 1as1eT PssseHtfah e the ss SIae tho se GSspss of ,s the
Harry bensdics, the 'e driyers Of f0f the o ahS
The purpose Of wronsfully Obtaining the
purse IHms , h hung =, up ?, By s, the Breedess' AssofiatiSn
association would have to pay out only one-half
Of the forfeit money received II Valence alone
starter the organization became liable for first
anu second money, amounting TO something
more than $1,000. Secretary Jewett asserted
that Noble started Chester simply to get second
money. the horse being In no condition to race.
and that the New York driver deliberately got
arrangement to receive from benedict second
money out Of the amount won by Valence.
"A. J. Lee of Boston, manager of A. A. Van
Dykes stable of t%rotters. testified that no heard
Noble and Benedict dickering over the share Of
edict said he would stick to his agreement and
give $500 TO Noble after he had shnt him out in
Inc nrst neat. Afidayits from Col. John E;
ThAXnr and two nf tho innDgE in fhR nrn Sf.tnJ
that Noble told them. when called into tho
stand for not trying TO win the first heat. that
race. even il he had boon distanced by Valencc
Charles Dana Palmer. one of tho members of
Noble had come to him after the race. saying,
c "Weil; I'm caught again." and No,, admitting tho
statements made. Hc claimed that Bcnoiict,
Ed Geers, and Joseph II. Thuyer would testify
on his side Of the case II permitted, and he asked
That the case DO continued until he could pro-
ducc them as witnesses.
Barney Demarest was on hand with a griev.
ance against the New England Breeders Asso-
citation, and asked tho board for a ruling in his
favor. Demares,t had entered several horses at
tho Boston track In 1895 and again in 1897,
winning about 81 900 Mt tho meeting this year.
When he collected his winnings Secretary
Jewett held out 1910 of The amount to cover I'M
paid feos on horses entered by Demarcst in 1896.
Barney, admitted that he owed the amount. but
belong to him personally. but to the owners nc Of
his horses, hence II ought not to be appropriated
to pay his debt. Secretary Gocher called attcn.
tion to the fact that Demnrcst had not compiled
with the rule which requires that owners
names shall be stated in making entries. and as
the Boston driver had entered everything in
his own name, the board seemed disposed to
look with little favor on his case.
Bud Murray of Chester. n. Y. requested the
board to award second money TO him in a race
that wns trotted Mt Fleetwood last June. Muir.
rays horse Glenmcre Boy started against New
burger. and the latter horse was drawn after
the first heat on account of bleeding. Second
money reverted 10 the Driving Club under tho
rules. there bong no other starter, but Murray
could not see IL that way until the board ruled
against his claim.
Testimony WAS also taken in several minor
cases, but no rulings were made.
Trotting Horse breeders Elcct u. II. Hartman
Prcsideut.
Syp Im-uE nac = uIo annual ,,no,,.-zs.I