The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-04-15
GOVERNORS EXPERT
ON LATHR0P MARKET
Says the Mule and Horse Station
Appears to BE Under Brit
ish Auspices.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Jefferson city. Mo. April 40. =. Gent
~, private secretary to Governor Dockery'
returned to-day tom an official visit OF IN
spsction to the mule and horse stables ana
farms of Guvton & Harrington at Lathfop'
The Governor ha- sent. him there TO ascer-
tain. If possible. II agents of the BrllsH
Government were violating the neutrality
laws In the matter OF purchasing mules an"
horses for the British army in South Airiea'
In summarizing his report, Mr.. "e,t'E
says that from appearances 1t locks very
much Ike the business il conducted un1er
British auspices" Aside from this one SEN
tence, Mr. Gentry does not venture an opih-
ion in his report. in 50 far as II relates |"
the reutra,itv feature Of the case.
State Can Do Nothing.
Goverro- Decker forwarded the report
last niyht to Senators Cockrell and Vest Tor
hem to present TO the Federal authorizes
He said that any action in the matter res's
entirely with tho FeFeral Cove nment, ana
that the State al ho-ities can do nothing III
tie premises.
Mr.. Geatry's report t. the Governor is as
follows
Governor \. NJ. Dockerv. jefferson CITY. SO.
Nv Dca~ Str-APrasahle 20 rouT to'tru'tions. l
visited l-athrup. Clinton Cyunty. Saturday. Aprii
-. Upon nv arrival q: Kansas city Friday. en
route 10 I.sthruu, | met NJ. Wiser. Sherif OF
Clinton County. ana also NJ. Kelly. collector 81
The same couLty. Tles both assurel me that IN
lorse ANA mule stables situated at Lathrop. no.
and run Ny GuEtun X Harrington. We're owned
exclusively by the said firm. They also informed
me that Guyton ~ Harrington owned about i.'Hp
acres Of land close 10 l.athrup. that the records
Of Clinton County would show. that the title ot
this land was IN The name Of GuytOn j. iar-
E!ngton. Besides. they further stated that this
linn leased about 5.vO to 7.O0l acres Of additional
lavl Fnr fhEir frEa IHnnn mi nc nt tlthrDD |
found that tie statements made to me by these
county officials were absolutely correct.
Old business Firm.
NJ. Guyton Of tae il:m Of Clayton & Harring-
ton las for the last twelve u fourteen years
beea buying hlisss and mules at Lathrop. and
selling them where he could dispose CT them to
the best NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. to The United
Suites Government. Guyton Il Harrington havs
large barns upon their lands. several that cot
SS.g0 apiece. and they now have on hand sew
e.il thousand head VI horses and mules and a
great naany hogs. l was informed that during
the last year tbs lyia has shipped from Lathrup
some 72.cOj head OF horses and mules. most Of
them destined for South Africa. l was further
informed by the bankers of Lathrop that &c
INN IS rated very high in the commercial world.
Every citizen OF Lathrop and Clinton County
speaks OF these gentlemen in the highest terms.
and Insists that The firm has done more iur. The
farmers OF Clinton County and Northwest ai's-
souri, in the purchase OF horses and muss InaE
VIXEN / arrived at Lathrop. Mr.. Francis. super
intenden; OF the entire plant, said TO be owned by
MessTs. Guyton and Harrington, invited me to in
siect their magnificent barns. pastures and stock.
i did So and made my Investigation as thorough
rs was practicable In a single day. Superin-
tsnGent Francis informed me. as did also Major
J. Moore of the British Army. that every CON-
Segment OF horses or mules received at Lathrop
that are taken to the Guyton x Harrington
barns are shipped 10 Major Moore. who is sta
toned ~ LatnTup.
british Officers In Charge.
The Major, with ten or fifteen other British
officers. IS located at that point. When the
horses or mules arrive at the Lathrop barns they
ale branded &C. & H" upon the right hip. the
British mark, an arrow. upon the left hip. and
an ~ upon the right shoulder. The ~ Sig
America. They also mark. the number Of the
mule b. burning 1t upon his right hoof. Every
thing Is done In a very systematic manner.
Most Of the stock shipped from Lathrop goes
to South Africa. At one OF the houses upon the
lands owned and operated by this firm / saw
twenty-pne Sepoys, who arrived only u few days
since from India. These Sepoys are to return
with 800 TO LOCO mules for the use OF the British
Army in that country.
Indications Are British.
Summarizing the whole matter. will say
that from appearances II looks very much like
the business is -largely conducted under British
auspices. The people OF Lathrop. however. and
OF Clinton County, anG also the members of this
firm. claim that all the compensation received
by the firm is 81 cents per day for the care OF
each horse and mule fed for the British Govern
tsndent Francis for the firm. and every British
officer Were entirely frank in their answers to
all questions prcpounded. 1t Is not my province
To offer any suggestions az to whether interna-
tional law has been violated. That question is
obviously one to he determined by the United