The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1906-12-14
RACE WON ON ITS MERITS.
Trottlne Association Says That Lou
Dillon Was Not Doped.

Trottlng Association Says That Lou
Dillon Was Not Doped.
New York. Dec. S.--After an all-day
session the National Trotting associa-
ton decided that the Memphis gold
cup race was won on its merits, and
dismissed the charges against Il. e.
Smathers. Sensation after sensation
was sprung in the hearing of the
charges in the famous Lou Dillon "dop-
ing" case, until the climax was reached
when afIidavits were produced men
tionlng c. X. G.. Billings, the million
aire owner of Lou Dillon, in connec-
ton with the charges against Elmer
II. Smathers, former owner of Major
Delmar.
The members of the National Trot-
disclosures made by the lawyers for
Smathers. While the evidence does
not specify Mr.. Billings, several tele-
grams were produced signed by Mr..
Billings secretary and addressed to
Ed Saunders, the man who made the
first charge against Mr.. Smathers.
Saunders swore that Smathers had
paid him $4,000 to inject eight ounces
Of dope" into Lou Dillon's body, so
as to stop" her in her race with
Major Delmar. The affidavit was read
from Saunders this afternoon in which
he says he was paid to make the charg-
es against Smathers, and that they
were absolutely without foundation.
George w. Spear was the most dam
aging witness against Smathers. He
swore orally that Smathers had re-
quested him to open negotiations with
Saunders to see If Lou Dillon could
not be fixed. Spear says Saunders
offered to do the job for $4,000, but
Smathers thought that too much and
told him to drop it.
Had Bad Character.
The defense Immediately produced
numerous witnesses who declared
Spears character bad 1t was shown
where Spears had been implicated in
other shady deals. One of these was
the famous Temple Bar case for which
he was suspended. One witness also
charged that he had suspected Spear
of having driven a steel brad into a
horses spine to prevent it going in a
race. Saunders affidavit showed that
he had met Murray Howe through an
introduction by Spear.
Several veterinary surgeons were in
troduced, among whom were DR.. julius
w. Schribe, state veterinary of Ten
nessee, and Dr. ID. r. Block, of the
government bureau of animal indus
try. Both swore that Lou Dillon
showed no evidences of having been
"doped"
DR.. Schrible attended the horse i'm
mediately after she came off the track.
He swore that she had nothing but
plain case of "thumps."
After the verdict in the case Mr..
Smathers said: "This case should
have been labeled Billings VS.. Smath-
ers. A decent man would have fought
in the open.
"The evidence showed conclusively
that all this was done by Billings
through a bunch of crooks in his en-
ploy. ne is lue LOTu DunTdVen OF
America. He is a counterfeit and
| 'four-flusher' He has a wider yellow
streak in him than there was in Lou
Dillon. l say all these things here in
New York because | want Billings to
know | am here. Pm going to remain
| here.
HE is no sportsman. He always
plays the baby act. He did it at the
horse show and when he was unified
he jumped out played the baby act,
sold his horses and l got his Part
Four-his red ribbon winners. | want
the public to know what kind of a man
he is. That's why say these things"
THE testimony shows that Billings
was dealing with a bunch of perjurers
and crooks, and got his just deserts"
continued Smathers. 81 will say final
ly that | believe the board of review
should take cognizance of the testi-
mony given today with a view of CIV
ing Mr.. Billings what he deserves. He
never was a sportsman and he never
will be. Why, the way that bunch of
crooks secured possession of the gold
cup while | was away from my home
will show you just what brand of citi-
zens they are"