The Saint Paul globe., 1902-01-24
BOB KNEEBS is DEAD
THE MAN WHO SLAPPED GERMAN
PRINCE PASSES AWAY AT
SIOUX CITY.
WAS a FAMOUS HORsEMAN
Charge of "RinEing' Filled Against
Him in Germany Attracted
Attention of Sporting
World.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa, Jan. 2.-Rohert
T. Hall, known as Bob" kneebs, a
horseman of international reputation,
died here yesterday at the age of sixty
two. He was convicted of ringing in
Germany in 1894 and spent year in Jail.
The case attracted attention of horse
men in Europe and America.
Kneebs was just a plain Nebraska farm
er but he knew horsefesh and horse
bone, and he could drive his racers like
the very devil. He lived on a ranch
near Wakefield, Neb., until the last few
years, when he has been in Sioux City,
where he bred and raised the horses that
made the Nebraska farmer famous
on both sides of the Atlantic.
1t meant nothing to Kneebs that he
swept the boards clean of their stakes
at racing meets, state fairs and pro-
fessional parks. He wanted to cross the
water. 1t was the ambition of his iife to
show the Germans how to race horses.
About ten years ago he resolved upon
the expedition that ended in an interna-
tional episode and considerable bad
blood. He secured promise OF backing
and started off with his horses.
Were the Names Mixed:
Among the horses Kneebs kept on his
Nebraska ranch was Nellie Kneebs, not
known to have done anthing remarkable
Another horse on the Wakefield farm was
Bethel, an exact ringer for Nellie
Kneebs in appearance, but with a good
record. When Kneebs shipped his horses
Nellie kneebS was listed among them,
but Bethel was not. When the time Cor
leaving arrived the hacker claimed his
money had not arrived. Kneebs decided
TO take his horses to Chicago and wait
for money there. When Chicago was
reached the money was still missing.
Kneebs went on to New York with the
was not He kept on going. but the
money was not at Liverpool The farm
er wired back to his home for money
and decided to back the enterprise him
self. The man back home was enraged,
and followed vowing vengeance.
p Kneebs did some racing through Eng
land, winning races right and left. Nell
lie Kneebs was the sporting sensation
of the season. Under his driving the
horse seemed capable of just enough
extra speed to win every race.
After cleaning up the English sports
Kneebs shipped his bunch of horses to
Germany. Various tracks were made
until finally Berlin was reached. Here
the sporting blood ran high Princes
of the royal blood, lords, mobiles of
small and high degree, frequented the
track and played strong against Kneebs
bay mare. The Nebraska farmer jockey
ed we'll He cleaned out the bunch until
finally the only man who had the nerve
to stay out against him was Prince
Schmidt, of some petty German munich
panty. His royal highness was sure he
had horse that could beat Nellie
kneebs, and backed his belief well
hneebs drove over the line smiling back
at his rival.
Charge of "RinSinE."
1t was here that the fine Italian hand
OF the "backer was exhibited. He
gained the ear of the sporting prince and
informed him that the alleged Nellie
hneebs was ringer" and that the
morse was actually Bethel, the speedy
mare supposed to be browsing on the
pastures of the Wakefield ranch
Inc prince was enraged. He went to
Kneebs and taxed him with his dupIcity.
Nheebs replied in characteristic Amer
lean fashion, landing his fist on Prince
Schmidts aristocratic nose. The specta-
tors We're aStounded. The prince made
immediate preparations to have Kneebs
arrested for ringing which is a seri-
Gus offense in Germany.
Kneebs' friends seeing the seriousness
OF the situation interceded with Prince
Schmidt. They told him it would not he
sportsmanlike to proceed against the Wis
ttlng American and his highness agreed
to withdraw his action is Kneebs should
apologize. The message was borne to
and was received with scorn
Apologize? Yes, L win apologize. You
tell his royal joblots that / will apologize
by hitting him another belt in the nose. ,,
Kneebs was thrown into prison. and
during the four years the matter was
under consideration he spent eighteen
months in jail. Turfmen all over the
world, took hand and the state de-
pa~tment was inundated by letters. peti-
tons and communications. A committee
was appointed and sent to Wakefield
Neb., to investigate the farm and find
the mare Bethel and returned will
the report that Bethel was there.
Local Sportsmen went to Berlin Ia
assist Kneebs. George Hammer and
jim MattiSOn appeared in the Berlin
court and swore to the identity of Mel.
lie Kneebs," but the judge would not lis
ten to them. He scornfully said thai
American witnesses could be bought fol
500 apiece, and at this statement
Kneebs' friends had to hold him down il
his seat to keep him from assaultfng the
judge. After four years of litigation
Kneebs was dismissed, but mis- property
to the amount of $4,000, and his horses
Wele confiscated or spent in the progress,
of the trial
Kneebs returned to the United State:
broken in fortune but undaunted HI
Immediately set to work to make another
fortune, with which he hoped to accom-
pish a good deal
The mystery of the identity Of "NeIIie
Kneebs'' has never been fully determin
ed though the friends of Kneebs smile
and wink knowingly when they tell the
story. The horse was among those con.
fiscated, but even with German driver.
did no better than three minutes.