The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-13
FARNHAM TALKS.
Tells What He Knows of the Barrett Case
Says New England Fair Won't Come
Here Next Year.

Mr.. FL. T. Farnham who, for three
years, has been the manager of the New
England Agricultural Society's annual
fair held in Portland, and who is closely
connected with the Maine Mile Track As
ISOLATION, which owns Rigby park, was
seen Saturday by PRESS man, and
had the following to say about the sus-
pension OF Mr.. j. f. Barrett of Deering,
the secretary Of the Maine Mile Track
association:
The suspension of Mr. Barrett by the
National Irotting Association can in no
manner effect the Maine Mile Track asso-
citation or the New England Agricultural
society In relation to the charges made
against MIR. Barrett in regard to modify
ing the conditions of the entries of the
ZIP class at the New England fair. the
facts are as follows: The g. 10 class not
filling under the advertised conditions
that race was declared off Mr. Barrett
was sent to Dover to secure entries for
a 2 IL class under the same conditions as
had been made for the O. 10 class. He was
not authorized to deviate from these con-
ditions and if he did it was without the
knowledge of the fair management. Mr..
Barrett. went to Dover and opened 212
class and no deviation of the conditions
was made as far as l know | cannot
see how the society can be penalized for
this and don't believe it will be. l be-
l1eve that the National Association will
ezonerate the society from all blame in
the matter when the facts of the case are
presented
1t will not make any difference to the
society anyway, because there is little
probability of the New England fair
coming here another year. The executive
committee of the New England Agricul-
tural society does not feel that the city
OF Portland has treated them just right.
The $500 which was appropriated by.
the city WAS not expended for the best
interests of the fair and the executive
committee believes that it should have
| received moro cordial support in it's en-
deavors to make the fair success.
As far as the Maine Mile track associ-
alton is concerned the suspension of
Mr.. Barrett will not effect it's standing
with the National Association. I do not
know much about Mr.. Barrett's case but
there is a feeling among the many Maine
men that he has been treated unjustly
in that his case was not fairly presented
| to the board of review.
A TALK WITH MR.. BARRETT.
| Mr.. J. f. Barrett Rigby's secretary,
who was expelled last week by theNation-
al Irottlng association, after appearing
| before the board of review in New York
to defend himself against charges of hav.
ing bought pools on q race at the York
| County fair. when he was officiating as
| judge, has returned home.
| When solicited for an interview he said
| he preferred not to say much for publica-
| ton at this time, though he might have
considerable to say later on. The action
OF the association is final, he said, and it
would have the effect of forcing him out
of the horse breeding business, in which
he has so long been engaged. He should
get rid OF the few trotters he has on hand,
and seek some new means of livelihood,
L am innocent of the charges brought
against me, - said he. Il did not buy
pools at the York County fair. False test
imony was brought against me. | have
not the least doubt that the board would
have vindicated me, had not other matters
come up pertaining to Rigby about which
hhu no previous knoWiedge / was
victim of circumstances in those Rigby
matters, and | stood up and took my
medicine. | don't blame the board for
its action. There was nothing else it
could do, under the circumstances.
Though MIR. Barrett did not care to
make a more explicit denial Of the allega-
tions concerning Rigby matters that were
called up against him at the session of
the board OF review, it is learned thathis
defence is, in effect, that for three years
he has been secretary of Rigby only in
name, and the Irregularities complained
OF were not his personal acts.