The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-12
SMITHS GIGANTIC FRAUD.
WORKED AT NORRIS PARK WITH
THE AID or KELLY. tue TOyT.

SMITHS Horse Couldn't Mum In the Dust. so
Kelly Had the Track Sprinkled Before
the First Race-Cost Snitz 500 4.
Fix 1t-And How wicked lie Does Fee,
Ever since the spring race meeting AT
Morris Park, Snitz, the Harlem butcher, bos
been intimating to his friends that he W.,
a party to gigantic fraud during the last
few days of the meeting. Snitz hasn't
told anybody just what the fraud was, but
has made it quite clear that he was a biz
winner by 1t, and that so deftly was the
thing worked that no one has ever s,,spe cted
the truth
SMITHS friends have naturally been very
curious to know what the trick was. The
air Of mystery and importance which Snits
has assumed since he took part in tho
fraud has been unpleasant to those who
have been in his confidence in the past, but
all their efforts TO get at the truth have been
unavailing. The knowledge that Snitz
never was racing man and never knew
anything about racehorses has added 10
their perplexity.
SMITHS big fraud might have remained q
secret, locked up in his breast forever, but
for an oily young person known around
the Harlem poolrooms as -Sure-T Thing
Kelly, the tout" Mr. Kelly was SMITHS
partner in the gigantic fraud mentioned,
and as Mr.. Kelly has keen sense Of humor
and cannot suppress good story, even
when it is money In his pocket to do so,
he has told the story of the Morris Park
fraud that has 80 mystified Snitzs friends.
When these hear the story Sni,zs repu-
tation for cuteness may drop peg or two.
The world has been good to Snitz, and
during the Morris Park meeting he got to
reading the horserace reports in the even-
ing newspapers. He read how this horse
won at S to /, and how some other horse
won at 20 to 1, and he finally made up his
mind that betting on the races was the
thing for him. But when Snitz came to
select horses to bet on he couldn't make up
his mind what TO play. He decided that
the thing for him to do was to make tho
acquaintance Of some one who knew some-
thing about horses and could advise him.
This was the cinch that "Sure-Thing'
Kelly, on the lookout for good things,
heard about and proceeded to cultivate.
In all his long experience, Sure Thing had
never encountered anything quite 80 easy
as Snitz. Instead Of coaxing him to bet,
he had to restrain him, which was an ex-
perience quite contrary to what Sure
Thing" was used to with his clients.
For nearly a week Sure Thing" kept
his good thing in pickle, waiting for some-
thing soft to turn up. Finally, in the last
days of the Morris Park meeting, he selected
horse which was almost sure to win, and
confidentially informed Snitz that the time
for a heavy plunge had arrived.
He Is in the first race tomorrow" said
Kelly to Snitz, -and we will win big hunk
Of money on him. You want to take a
Thousand to the track with you, so we can
make a good win. because he'll be at short
price and it will take lot Of money to win
lot"
1t was noon the next day when Snitz and
1Sure-Thing" Kelly reached the track. II
was Kellys suggestion that they come early
and get the best prices offered for their
money. But when Kelly stood in front Of
the betting ring and sized up his victim,
his train of thought changed.
This horse will be to S." unused Kelly
to himself IF can get him to put up $500
he'll win $500, if the horse comes In all right.
At the outside he'll give me $50. 1t amt
enough. Still 1t looks like sure money. [
can steer him onto a long shot, and, if il
wins, may get several hundred out Of him,
but then that's uncertain money l can t
hold him long, so L better get all I can this
time"
Musing along in this fashion, a brilliant
idea finally occurred to Kelly
Great Scott, SMITH," he exclaimed. Look
at the track"
Watts der matter nit it?" demanded
Snitz.
"Over the hoofs in DUST" said Kelly.
frightening his face, and trying to look
disappointed. Say. Snitz," he continued.
this horse Of ours cannot run in the dust
This is awful The easiest money OF the
year gone, just because OF a little dust. On,
if we could only get little shower, Snit2.
Just little rain"
aVat could We do ALOUD it?" demanded
! Snitz.
wait" said Kelly; there's one chance.
Just one. Iii taking q big risk, Snitz,
| but maybe can fix it. Wait here for me, '
| and while Snitz waited the tout went behind
! the grand stand, walked up and down
few times and returned, apparently in
state of great excitement.
! 4Snitz," whispered Kelly, first looking
! around to see that no one was in earsh"t,
Il don't think I told you that the superln..
tendent Of this track is great friend OF
! mine.
"You didn't" said Snitz.
! We'll, he is" said Kelly. Nov, SHIFTS,
| I have seen him about getting the track
wet somehow and he thinks it can be don"
! if it's done right away before the people
! begin to come up to the track. 1t II cost uS
a hundred TO have the dust laid, but once
/ we pet that track wet our horse ia the surest
! kind of a winner. Will you put up tho
hundred? Quick, for there isn't moment
to be lost"
Sni,z was very much impressed by the
idea that he would be partner IN a. big
fraud. Stealthily he hauled out his big
| roll of hanknotes, and pc eled of five twenty
dollar bills Showing these in his pockr:
Kelly dsrted into the paddock and stayed
here until 1:3O o'clock. Then Snitz on
the lookout for the promised results, sud-
denly saw line Of sprinkling carts com"
out on the track and begin to lay the dus,
SSnitz had difficulty at restraining hlmset
at this sight and almost clasped kehy IN
his arms when the latter, having also no
ticed the sprinkling carts, came out fTonI
his temporary retreat looking very M
portant. .
The sprinkling carts went round ana
| round the track, wetting the dust cow
thoroughly, and then went back 10 Wv,
! stables Snitz wanted some more wafer
put on the track for fear il would dry orI
! before the race, but Kelly said N "olIu
| excite suspicion to do that, so Snltz mao 10
he satisfied. s-..;.,
! Kelly put up Smiths $500 on the favor"
and won it., Snitz went wild with loyi '''
And here's fifty more, Kelly, for gel')N
der track we'd" said SnitZ.
Kelly unblushingly took the none y.
! Then he warned Snitz never to tell OF ~