The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-12
TURFMEN CANNOT
BELIEVE; STORIES
Lou Dillon Scandal Looks Like
Q Piece Of Spite
Work. Il
Journal special Service.

Journal Special Service.
New York Feb. 12.-With the arrival in town
OF G. X. G. Billings from Chicago a report was
started in turf circles that o suit for 500, 900
damages for the alleged drueging of Lou Dillon
before the Memphis gold cup race ut Memphis
in October, 1904, was certain to follow the
suit against Elmer e. Shlathers for the return
of the trophy. -st.sg., III .-
Mr.. Billings refused to deny or confirm the
report Of damage suit, and Mr. Smathcrs
said he had never heard. Of it, The latter hooted
at the idea. He asserted that be would re-
cover the cup and expects to have it In hts
custody no later than tomorrow.
lis this suit against Mr.. Smathers preliIn-
mary to an action for damases:" Mr.. Billings
was asked. f. ..s. '.@t a .rs - ~
~ dent care to say anything on that sub
tect," was his reply.
as 1t true, as has been asserted by smathars
and his counsel, that you are behind this nc
tion?'' za@s r.. -. go
~ must decline to say"
smathers Has Evidence.
Mr. Smathers said that he was in possession
charge that he conspired with Edward Sanders
and George Spear, both well-known drivers on
the grand circuit. ..' W ><-
when this case comes to trial." said Mr..
Smathers "the affdavits made by Sanders
and Spear viii be torn to shreds. and their
statements afford the sole support for the action
against me- These will be shown up
in their true character, and that should be
DR.. Gill, the veterinary expert Of this city,
last night said: 1.-THE story about the drug
ging OF the mare Is preposterous, In my opinion
1t Is my firm conviction that the of the
eight-ounce bug Of mercury, as prescribed by
Sanders in his affidavit, would never have pro-
ddSed the. results credited to it. Tied up in
the rubber bag, as he swears it was, it could not
have acted as a corrosive poison. .-.s.
1.-THE most that bag OF mercury could have
done would be to act as violent irritant, just
as any foreign body would have DONE and
the chances are about a thousand to one that
the mare would have been able to expel it. Z,
!. Veterinarian s Views. = :.
SIN the meantime, its presence could hardly
have been kept secret from everyone in sight
for her actions would certainly have shown that
| there was something wrong The chances arc
! that the mare would have kicked everything t.
| smash. Several Of the reports of the rae
| said Lou Dillon was suffering from what turfne1
call the. humps, q malady similar to hiccough.
| in a human being, and that would have been sui
| ficient to stop her., r.. -
| Murray Howe, who was secretary and treas
urer Of the Memphis Trotting association at tn,
| mar, the Smathers horse, is here to act TO
| the association in the prosecution in the sui
against Smathers.
/ II am here to prove the truth Of the opinion
I formed on the day Of the race between Lol
| Dillon and Major Delmat," said Mr.. Howe .'I
was at the finish Of the first heat that decide,
| there was something wrong. To my mind Their
i were tndics lions that the mare had been tam
i pered with. I took secret VOW then that
would get at the truth Of the matter. There ar
many other turfmen who share my opinion" :