Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-06

phis Trotting Association, but he Subse-
quently recovered it's possession through
recourse to the courts and the putting up
of necessary bonds.
As an Offset 20 the serious charge Mr..
Smathers collected many affidavits from
reputable persons. which showed, as they
were read yesterday, that there was a
clique Of persons directly interested in the
gold cup race that intended to injure his
character at any cost. These aftidavits,
with the testimony Of Spear. Edward NAL
10y, the caretaker of Lou Dillon, and an
other affidavit from Ed Sanders that all he
swore to previously was an untruth, SEEM
ingly had considerable bearing On the
board. for after a rather brief executive
session 1t was ready to announce its de-
cision.
Present at Hearing.
Mr. Smathers and number Of prominent
horsemen throughout the country, including
Daniel J. Campau of Detroit and Frank
Bower of Philadelphia, a member Of the
central district board of the board Of review.
were present throughout the proceedings.
Mr.. Smathers was deeply gratifed over the
result contending that much Of the glory
was due to the able manner in which the
case was presented by ex-Representattve
John S. Wise, John I. Adams. Judge Ed
ward p. Coyne and Caruthers Ewing OF
Memphis, Tenn. 1t was brought out by Mr..
Wise in his closing address to the board
that, In the event of Mr.. Smathers being
exonerated, probably civil suit for dam
ages would be instituted against both G. K.
G. Billings and Murray Howe, the secre-
tary of the Memphis Trotting Association,
the allegation being that Howe was a party
with Ed Sanders, in charging that Lou
Dillon was 'doped," so as to lose the race
to Major Delmar, and that Mr.. Billings,
as one of the leading lights of the Mem
phis Trotting Association, was a party to
the sO-called conspiracy. 1t was also said
after the decision was rendered that charges
If Spr would 10 against
Ed Sanders and George Spear, and If
found guilty both men would be expelled.
The members of the board of review who
heard the evidence yesterday were Major p.
P. Johnson of Lexington, KY, president;
George Campbell Brown of Spring Hill,
Tenn, representing the central district; j.
M: Johnson of Calais. Me-, representing the
eastern district, and John II. Shuts of New
York, representing the Atlantic district.
Most of the testimony presented was
through affidavits, the only persons imme-
diately identified with the case present be-
ing E. E. Smathers. George Spear and
Eddie Maloy. Secretary Gocher pre-
scented the charges of the National Trotting
Association against E. E. Smathers in the
shape Of numerous affdavits. One from
Willard Sanders said that his brother. Ed
Sanders, made preparations for the 'dop-
ing" of Lou Dillon. contending that he
Ed Sanders, thought 5000 or $4,000 could
be secured from Mr.. Smathers. Willard
Sanders also said he believed George Spear
was 1DAXeO up III lIe dudlI
Lou Dillon Sick.
An affidavit was also read from Mt. Bill
ings, which stated that up to short time
before the race Lou Dillon was in fine
shape. Before she had gone to the quarter
mile post. however. Mr.. Billings noticed the
mare was not going as well as she should.
and when he called upon her to do her best
she failed. Before the heat was ended the
mare showed evidences of being very sick.
George Spear. horse trainer for Mr..
Smathers, who was charged as being one OF
the chief parties in the alleged doping"
was subjected to a severe cross-examina-
ton. He said that he was first approached
by Mr.. Smathers at Lexington, KY, short
time before the race. Mr.. Smathers, he
said, asked him to see what could be done
to assure the winning of the race by Major
Delmar. Spear was not sure whether he
suggested the plan of attempting to bride
Ed Sanders, but he said Mr.. Smathers
told him to go ahead and see ED and try
to make some arrangements for the win
ming of the race by Major Delmar. Spear
then said that he and Sanders talked 1t
over. and he presumed Ed Sanders would
see his brother, Millard. Ed wanted
more money than the 5000 Mr.. Smathers
was ready to offer. Mr.. Smathers wanted
the mare to go good race, just sufficiently
to be beaten by Major Delmar.
Counselor Wise in his cross-examination
of the driver mixed him up somewhat as to
dates, and subjected him to a severe ques-
tioning on his past record. His questions
seemed to show that Spear had been guilty
of sharp practices. He got from Spear an
admission that his affidavit was secured by
pointment, and that Mr.. Meagher, personal
counsel of Mr.. Billings, drew up the affi-
davit which he (Spear) signed.
Mare Not Doped.
Eddie Malloy. the caretaker of Lou Dillon
when she trotted against Major Delmar,
testified that he saw Lou Dillons trainer
administer something to the mare out Of a
bottle. He took extra precautions and al
lowed no one to go near the stable. He
was almost sure Lou Dillon had been
"doped." In contradiction OF this DR..
Julius w. Schneider. who attended Lou
Dillon after she was taken from the race
to the stable, declared that Lou Dillon was
afflicted with the thumps and nothing else
She responded to the treatment he gave
her. He said the charge that the mare was
'-doped" with eight ounces of mercury was
nonsensical Mercury would not cause
ian further said. After the race DR.. Schie-
bier testified that he was asked to sign an
affidavit that the illness of the mare was
suspicious, but he refused. DR.. Eugene
Block, another veterinarian, who is con-
nected with the bureau Of animal industry.
saw the race, and in his testimony contend
ed that Lou Dillon was not .'doped."
In summing up for Mr.. Smathers both
John 8. Wise and Carruthers Ewing char
acterized the charge as the work OF corrupt
men. and the proceeding did more to fnjure
trotting than anything else that had oc-
CURED in the annals Of the sport.
Another important case which has exer-
cised horsemen will be called today A. L.
Thomas, who was ruled of the turf for life
at the grand circuit meeting at Hartford
Conn, last September. has applied for rein
statement. Thomas's punishment was the
result Of his horse, Mainsheet, after finish
Ing first in heat. being set back. This
angered Thomas so much that he asked to
withdraw his horse, which was refused
Then he took Mainsheet from the track, de-
clining to start him In the third heat. Eus-
sequently Thomas apologized for his con-
duct. and 1t Is thought that this viii have
much to do toward assisting him in having
the punishment removed.