The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-02-16
NOW 100000 SUIT
FOR DAMAGES limited
Excitement Over the Alleged
Dragging Of Lou Dillon
Grows.
sMATHERs coMPLAcENT
Expert Veterinarian Says dope" Story
9s. prepostsrous-seeretary Howe, g
on the Other Hand, Says He
Has Proof.

New York, Feb. 15.---Witil the arrival
h town OF e. X. G.. Billings from Chi
cago a report was started in turf cir
cles that a suit for 100000 damages
TOR the alleged drugging OF Lou Dillon
before the Memphis gold cup race at
Memphis in October. 1904. was certain
to follow the suit against Elmer E.
Smathers for the return of the trophy.
Mr., Billings refused to deny or con-
arm the report of a damage suit. and
Mr.. Smathers said he had never heard
Of 1t. The latter hooted at the idea.
Ie asserted that he would recover the
cup and expects to have 1t In his GUS
tody no later than tomorrow.
lis this suit against Mr.. SmatherH
preliminary to an action for damages"
Mr.. Billings was asked.
IT don't care to say anything OH that
subject" was his reply.
lis it true, as has been asserted by
Smathers and his counsel. that you are
behind this action?"
II must decline to say"
Accused Not Worrying.
Mr.. smathers said that he was in pos
session Of ample evidence to vindicats
him of the charge that he conspired
with Edward Sanders and George
Spear. both we'll known drivers on the
grand circuit.
..yVhen this case comes to trial, said
MI. Smathers, "the aftidavits made by
Sanders and Spear will be torn to
shreds, and their statements AFFORD the
sole support for the action against me.
These men will be shown up in their
true character. and that should be sum
Gent vindication for me"
DIR, Gill, the veterinary expert OF this
atty, last night said: 1.-THE story about
tho drugging Of the mare Is preposter-
Gus, in my opinion. 1t Is my firm con- :
viction that the use Of the eight ounce
bag OF mercury, as described by San
aers in his affidavit, would never have
produced the results credited to 1t. Tied
up in the rubber bag. as he swears te
was, it could not have acted as q COR
rosive poison.
."The most that bag OF mercury could
lrritant, Just as any foreign body would
have done. and the chances are about
thousand to one that the mare would
have been able to expel 1t.
Says Story Is Preposterous.
'In the meantime. its presence could
hardly have been kept a secret from
everyone in sight, for her actions would
/ certainly have shown that there was
something wrong. The chances are
everything to smash. Several Of the
/ reports of the race said Lou Dillon was
suffering from what turfmen call the
thumps. malady similar to hiccoughs
In human being. and that would have
been sufficient to stop her"
/ Murray Howe. vino was secretary and
treasurer OF the Memphis Trotting as
ISOLATION at the time OF the race be-
tween the mare and Major Delmar
1.-THE Smathers horse. is here to act for
the association IT the prosecution In
the silt against Smathers.
II am here to prove the truth Or the
opinion l formed on the day Of the
race between Lou Dillon and Major
Delmar," said Mr.. Howe. ut was al
the finish of the first heat that I de-
cidel there was something wrong. To
my mind there were Indications that
the mare had been tempered with.
get at the truth of the matter. There
arc many other tnrfmen who share my
opinion