The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-03
PROBING CRESCEUS CASE
WICHITA RECORD BEING INyEsTI-
GATED BY ASSOCIATION.
Main Question at Issue Is Whether
the Meeting Was Regularly Con-
sducted-Record May Stand.

CHICAGO, Dec. 2.-Whether the time OF
l:59Z which the great trotting stallion Cres-
ceus is said TO have made at Wichita. Kan,
on Oct. 10 will be allowed to stand as a
record or not probably will be decided by
the board of appeals of the American Trot-
ting Association, which met in Chicago to-
day.
Evidence for George H. Ketcham. owner
and driver of Cresceus, and for the South
ern Kansas Fair and Carnival Association.
under whose aupsices the trial was made,
was presented to the board. Mr.. Ketcham
himself presented his case orally. besides
a written statement The question of the
length of the track did not figure
Mr.. Ketcham made an impassioned appeal
to the board, in which he stated that 1T was
not the record OF Cresceus that was on
trial, but the horses owner. If the record
was not made as reputed, then he must be
adjudged guilty of aspiring to perpetrate
one of the worst jobs in trotting history,
and his reputation suffer accordingly, ad-
ding, II have shipped in the last few
years to England and the continent over
$4,000 worth OF American trotters, and
have been enabled to do so through the
European horsemen believing implicitly In
my honesty. My old horse has done every
thing l have asked of him in eight years.
L never tore up a pool ticket | ever bought
on him, and 1 am willing to stand and fall
by him. He and l want credit for what we
have done; We want that, and want nelther
more nor less"
The main question at issue seems to be
whether the meeting was regularly con-
Quoted under the rules of the association
One rule provides that a regular meeting
shall be advertised at least a week before
hand, and also that there shall be at least
two class events in addition to the trial
against time, these events also to be duly
advertised.
Mr.. Ketchams side was unable to pro-
duce advertisements and the board has
wired to Wichita to have any published
announcements mailed to Chicago. The
rules provide that no official may act in
the capacity OF judge and timer, but the
records of the meeting show that s. b.
Amedon signed himself alternately as judge
and timer in the different events. Mr..
Amedon, in his statement to-day, said he
did not really know for which event he was
engaged to time and for which he was to
Judge, but stated that he was In the judges
stand all the afternoon.
President G. M. Amedon, of the fair asso-
citation, also testified. Efforts on the part
of the Wichita men to belittle the sworn
statements of John Pulse, George Pulse
and c. L. Garrison, all Of whom had timed
| Cresceus unofficially at over 2O5, were
| checked by the board, who promised that
| no more than their due Importance would
| be attached to them.
Before adjournment tomorrow additional
| evidence will be received relating to the
| performance of George H. Ketchams stall
| lion Cresceus. 1t Is generally thought
among the members of the board of APP
peals that the record will be allowed to
stand.
A mass of evidence in complaints brought
| against horse owners and drivers was heard
| by the board OF appeals, but final action
on most of the cases will not be taken
until tomorrow, when the association will
conclude its work.
After considering the case Of G.. G..
Coates, of Sioux Falls. 8. D., who was
| fined $50 and suspended from the associa-
| ton for a period Of one year. and two of
his horses disqualified, the result of an
encounter between Coates and one of the
| judges after a race that was run at Sioux
| Falls last summer. the board reinstated
| Coates and removed the disqualification
from his horses. The fine was allowed to
| stand.