The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-04-14
ALL FOR A S0RREL MARE.
DISPUTE AS TO THE OWNERSHIP
WILDE CARRIED TO COURT.

Mr.. Barnard Evans Says Governor Eiierbe
Made AN Election Bet With Him FiedG-
fne His Bloodsd Mare "3slly," Which
the Governor Denies.
COLUMBIA, April 7.-There is beau
tiful chestnut sorrel mare that is seen
very often on the streets of Columbia,
She is a neat and spry animal, and
knows how to make mile in quick
time. There is a bit OF history back OF
this mare that is not generally known,
although it has been whispered about
the city for several mouths.
The mare, Sally, by name, IS the
occasion of a lawsuit that promises to
be quite interesting, both from the
facts that are to be brought out, as
well as the personnel of those who
make up the principal parties to the
suit. It is not usual thing for the
Governor OF State and the brother
of a former Governor to 60 to law
about the possession of a horse, but
such is the case in this instance-lt Is
more usual for the contests to be tol
Offices. ,a
By way of preface, Mr.. Barnard B.
Evans, now OF Columbia, is driving
and claiming ownership OF the mare
Sally. Governor Ellerbe contend;
most emphatically that the mare be
longs to him, and that Mr.. Evans ha:
no claim whatever on the aforesaid
mare.
This morning about 9 o'clock Gov
ernor Ellerbe was seen at the execu
tive Office relative to the matter, ano
asked for his side of the litigation. de
promptly said that the matter was In
the courts, and that he did not think
that it was right for him to have any
thing to say about the matter as long
as the issue was pending in the courts
of the State. He said that there were
others who were familiar with his side
of the case. When asked the point
blank question whether he had made
bet with Mr.. Barnard B. Evans, on
which the horse is contended to have
been won, he most distinctly and une
quivocally said that Mr.. Evans and ne
had never made bet involving this
or any other horse, and that MIR. Evans
had no right, title or claim whatever
on the mare, and that this he expected
to prove in the courts at the proper
time, and that was just as soon as il
was possible to do so. The contention
on which Governor Ellerbe claims
absolute possession of Sally is, how
ever. given from entirely satisfactory
sources.
1t appears that Governor Ellerbe
bought the mare sally" from the
stock farm at Pendleton, with which
Major Augustine T. Smythe, OF
Charleston, is connected. The mare
was of fine stock, with record of 2.22.
Mr.. George w. Haight, horse train
er, who has had charge Of the train.
ing of horses for people in this State,
was here and Governor Ellerbe turned
sally" over to Mr.. Haight for the
purpose of having her trained. Mr..
Haight also had for the purpose of
training q brother of sally" named
Ely" belonging to Major Smythe,
of Charleston. 1t was suggested to Mr..
Ellerbe, after Mr.. Haight had had his
mare for some time, that he might
have trouble in getting his mare back
from Mr.. Haight, and Mr.. Ellerbe
understood that Major Smythe had
experienced considerable trouble in
getting back his horse Ely, that Mr..
Haight had put up one of his horses,
and that when Mr.. Smythe wanted his
horse there were heavy charges for
feed and the like, but Mr.. Smythe fin
ally managed to get his horse back
Mr.. Ellerbe then became worried
about his animal and kept look out
for her. Mr.. Ellerbe found that Mr..
Haight had taken his racing stable to
Savannah, and among the hsrses TAX
en- was Sally" About this time Gov.
Ellerbe was in Columbia, and he says
that he met Mr.. Evans at the State
House, and the two got to talking
about the mare. Mr.. Evans told Gov
ernor Ellerbe, so the story OF this side
goes, that he was going to Savannah
on free pass. Governor Ellerbe re
marked that he might get "Sally"
while he was down there. Mr.. Evans
suggested that he be given an order on
Mr.. Haight for the mare. They went
into the Comptroller Generals Office,
and the order was duly given for Mr..
Evans to get the horse. Governor Ell.
lerbe did not think that Mr.. Evans
would be able to get the mare, as he
feared that Mr.. Haight would have all
kinds of charges for feed and the like
for the mare, but to his surprise Mr..
Evans got the mare, and had her
brought to Columbia. Governor Ell.
lerbe, it is said, promised Mr.. Evans
that he could drive the mare for q
month or two, or until he wanted her.
if he succeeded in getting her from
Mr.. Haight, and on this condition,
and this alone, Governor Ellerbe is
said to have given the order.
Governor Ellerbe, it is understood,
contends that he never heard that the
horse was to be regarded as a wager
until after he came to Columbia and
made claim for it. After Mr.. Evans
had the horse for while he thought
he might as well let him hold on to
her until he came over as Governor.
Governor Ellerbe will swear when
the case comes to trial that he did not
make any bet with Mr.. Evans, and
that the horse was never given 10 Mr..
Evans for any consideration whatev-
er, and that the distinct understand
ing was that he was to get the horse
as soon as he wanted her. Governor