Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1898-03-23
the JoBBeD z RACE.
The Last Heat In the Long Struggle Olives
Bennett the Purse.

bennett tne fufeSs
The last heat in the jobbed horse
race has been run, the supreme court
having passed on the appeal from
the decision of the district court
granting a new trial in the 8 OF
Robt. Morrison and W. H. Davis VS..
O.. L. Bennett. AS this horse race
has been the subject of much public
ity, since the first heat was called on
September 9Th, 1895, and many have
doubtless forgotten the particulars
OF. the job, we briefly review.
During the summer Of 1895 O.. E.
Bennett and d. NJ. Crowley were RI
walls In the horse racing business.
Mr.. Crowley owned one Distance, a
PAGER, and which was then h fleet
est animal in the county. Bennett
and Robert Morrison conceived the
idea of bringing in a "ringer" and
their scheme is best shown from the
following letter, which appeared as
an exhibit in the case, and was writ
ten by Bennett to his friend, w. III.
Davis, in Ohio:
80 . There is a man here that
has got some scrub horses that he
thinks is fast trotters and PAGERS.
He is n man that has got lots of
money, him and his friends will bet
their money. His PAGERS are range
stock without any mark; can go
long somewhere from $40 to 2:30.
VIn 10 SfunE IN hnnG tho hnrlQG No ha
is a man without any knowledge of
horse racing. He has been in the
county for a long time; has done bus
mess in the early days with the half
breed Indians. He is a saloon
keeper. = = = / want a man to
come and bring two good horses
with him, one PAGER and one trotter
that can go along, rather have them
with low marks and we will match
this man with a dead mortal cinch.
We can win several thousand dollars
which is like finding it. The way l
would wan to bring the horses in
the country would be to sneak them
in the town, put hair brand on them
Sc they would appear as
range stock. = Would want
you to write to me and tell me what
you would bring If you would come.
it is meat for some N Let me hear
from you, so on, and keep this u
secret. 1 remain as ever you friend,
o. Z. BENNETT"
"Lewistown, Fergus County, Mont"
Davis fell in with the scheme and
May Both appeared in Lewistown
looking for a job as a horse trainer,
giving the name of Johnson. He
was engaged by Bennett and not
long after there suddenly appeared
a bay mare, sleek and apparently
pretty fast. After much parley a
matched race between this mare,
Lady Wallace" aud Crowley's
Distance was arranged to come
OFF during the meeting of the Fair
association and for a wager of $500
II side. The interest was keen, 1t be-
ing by far the most attractive event
of the meeting. But the jobbing was
meanwhile going on. Davis and
Morrison claimed that Bennett in
stigated the next move and Bennett
claims that Davis was the mover,
but let that point pass. At any rate
Davis agreed with Bennett that he
should throw the race to Distance"
and to secure Bennett, gave him a
bill of sale for his interest in the mare
to hold good if Distance" should
not win the race. Bennett, feeling
safe, placed money o. Crowley's
horse, and plenty of it, so 1t was
said at the time. While Davis was
arranging this with Bennett, he had
given Morrison n bill of sale similar
to that given Bennett, but dated
previously and he and Morrison and
Crowley had entered into a combina-
ton. This was the only combina-
ton that held. Crowley, through
third parties, placed money on Ben
nett's Lady Wallace" and a few of
his confidents did the same. The
race was called and the first heat
Lady Wallace" shut out Distance
coming under the wire, at an easy
gait, in DID,. Benefits heart sank,
but he was quick to act.
The stake money of 81 900 had been
placed and this money Bennett drew
down at once and refused to "divy'
with his partners, Morrison and Da-
Wis. Out of this the suit, which has
just been decided, resulted. Morri-
SOL and Davis brought action to re-
cover two-thirds of the wager and
won their case in the district court.
Cort & Worden appeared for plain
tiffs and W. NJ. Blackford for defend
ant Bennett. Mr.. Blackford, who
handled the case with much skill,
commended that the wager was in
violation of law and recovery could
not be had. The court held differ
entity but later altered it's opinion