Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-08-16
LOST $4,000 ON RACE
Lyndonville Sports Buncoed by
Professional Sprinters.

Race Took Place at st. Johnsbury-
lyndonVille Men Claimed False
Start, but Referee Was Unwilling
to Decide.
What appears to be a slick and sue
cessful bunco game eliminated in a
simple 100-yard dash at the fair
grounds here Tuesday afternoon, and
as result a party of Lyndonville gen.
tlemen are. out sum of money, ap-
proximated at $4,000, said a despatch
from st. Johnsbury under date of
August 8.
The game began a few weeks ago
when young man calling himself
Miller appeared at Lyndonville with
few visible possessions except an ath.
lete's suit. He represented that he
was a professional runner, but was
in hard luck, and wanted a job.
He found one in livery stable, and
soon had crowd of local sporting
men interested in his abilities as a
Splinter. When his duties at the sta.
bic allowed a little time he would
don his running clothes and give an
exhibition for the benefit of his ad.
mlrers.
Their admiration grew, and the ath.
lete suggested that a match might
be of general profit if one could be
arranged. This aroused the sporting
blood of his many friends. and, act.
ing upon his advice, New York parties
were appealed to. For a time there
seemed to be no hope, but finally q
man named Mehan was found who
was willing to race for 500 a side.
He thought his proposed opponents
name was familiar, but, being in
doubt, requested that a photograph
be sent for his inspection. This Mil.
ler's hackers were glad to do, and in
few days a reply was received, stat;
ing that he knew the stranded ath.
lete, but did not think that he could
beat him.
However, as the matter had pro-
crossed so far, he was willing that ar
rangements be completed. Mehan and
three friends from New York arrived
at Lyndonville the first of the week,
and the closing arrangements were
made. The matter was kept as quiet
as possible. and it was arranged that
the event should take place at St.
Johnsbury.
One of the New York gentlemen
was chosen as referee and stake
holder. 1t is said that before reach
ing the fair grounds the visitors had
secured bets to the amount of about
$4,000, and after p. m, the time set
for the race, about an hour was occu-
pied in arousing the country sports
to place more money on their favor
tie.
This move was made to gain more
time, as we'll as more money, for the
visitors were booked to leave town
on the o'clock train, and it was evil
dent that they desired the time be-
tween the race and the departure of
the train to be as brief as possible.
Shortly after o'clock the contest
ants lined up. A Lyndonville man
was starter, and in a fraction over 10
seconds he and his townsmen were
about $4,000 short. Mehan had won.
The losers became frantic and pro-
tested that the start was an unfair
one. The referee was appealed to,
but that gentleman was unwilling to
decide the matter and informed the
disappointed ones that in New York
there was a board" for the purpose
Of settling such disputes, and he pre-
ferred to leave the whole matter to
them.
This was agreed to, and the referee,
with a dress suit case we'll filled with
the proceeds of the days work, STEP
ped into a waiting hack, with Mehan
and the other strangers, and was
driven to the depot.
The Lyndonville sports returned
home with a firm belief that the
BOARD" would give them justice, and
it is just beginning to dawn upon them
that they have been the victims of a
clever bunco game.