Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-10-15
DUPED PUTNEY SPORTS.
A Series Of Hippodrome Races

Ended saturday In an Event for 500 a
side on the valley Fair Grounds---
How the Game Was Worked by Pro-
fessionNI sprinters.
A series Of hippodrome or fake sprintinC
matches came to close Saturday on the
Valley Fair ground track, when Fred Brit
ton, backed by Putney residents Of sport
ing proclivities, was beaten by James
Madigan. The race was for 800 side.
Back Of the race is a story which means
less lucre and more experience for several
young men of Putney and Newfaue, and
which will tend to dampen their enthusi-
asm for this kind OF sport for several
moons, at least.
Fred Brtton of South Hadley Falls
came TO Putney a month ago TO visit his
aunt, Mrs. Homer Taft. II soon became
nOsed about that he was a professional
Splinter, known as Fred Miller Jewett
Knight Of Putney has local reputation
as a fast man on his feet and his friends
put up small purse for a race, which Miller
won handiy. The statement was then
given out that Miller had won $3.50 in
prizes at the Labor day celebration in
Pittsfeld Mass. Dick Underwood is the
champion of Newfane, and young men
there arranged TO have Miller meet him.
Miller won this time, although he gave
Underwood three yards, start, and James
Madigan, young man who was staying at
| the hotel in Newfane, offered TO race Mil
/ Ter for S2j if Miller would give him a start
Of three and one-half yards. Madigan had
| previously won a race from Underwood,
! Newfane boys putting up SO for the event.
Madigan's proposition was accepted and
] h. wont a NpWfaDa n tpaat Miller Nil
/ Ter was running neck and neck with his
/ opponent 20 yards from the tape and seem
ed 10 lead the way without effort. 1t is
the general impression that quite sum
changed hands on the result. Miller's
time was 10 and two-ffths seconds.
Madigan prOfess,d 10 be dissatisfied and
. another race was arranged--the one in
Brattleboro which Madigan won. Miller
did not start until Madigan had lead Of
10 yards. He said he was making a hole
for his foot when the starter gave the word
and tina: the fault in giving Madigan the
lead was with the starter. Brattleboro
men do not know who acted as starter.
There is a third man connected with the
races who appeared in Putney soon after
the arrival of Britton, or Miller. The
stranger registered at the hotel as Smith,
and said he was buying apples. He is said
to have registered at NeWfane as Taylor
He held the stakes for both races between
Miller and Madigan. The Putney boys
had become so confident Of Mller's proves
that they were willing TO back him for any
amount, and they put up the 500. Miller,
Madigan and Smith all disappeared i'm
mediately after the race. 1t now appears
that Madigan was a complete stranger in
Newfane, and II is doubtful whether he
had any backing for the last race.
How much the experience with profes-
sional sprinters cost the Putney boys will
probably never be known. Nobody in
Brattleboro saw the race so far as has
been learned, and the larger part of those
present were from Putney. Brtton and
Madigan were seen in Brattleboro after
the race and one report credits Brittou
with stating that his sojourn in Vermont
had netted him 500, but this is probably
an exaggeration. "Madigan" was recog
nized by two or three acquaintance a:
jack Meehan, a well-known Connect
cut Splinter, who has lived in Holyoke
The identity Of Stakeholder Smith has moi
| been identified