Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-02
ACQU|T BROOKS;
SUSPEND TWO
DIRECTORS AND JUDGES MAKE
DECISIONS
Charges Against Manager of Ascot Not
ustalned-"Boots" DurneII and
J. j. Mccafferty Given Twelve
Months Suspension
BY Jay Davidson

BY Jay Davidson
The board of directors Of the Los An
geles Jockey club yesterday concluded
its investigation into the charges made
by horsemen against Manager Brooks
and handed down the official findings
in which Manager Brooks is fully ano
almost without reserve eXonerated in
every particular and the horsemen are
censured for giving publicity to theiI
grievances.
The findings and the official decree
of exoneration is as follows:
In the matter of the charges made
by F. B. Van Meter, Henry Mcdaniel,
Fred T. Wood, c. T. Boots and j. ].
McCafferty against General Manager
Brooks, the board finds:
First That no proof has been offered
tending to connect Mr.. Brooks with
improper, unfair or dishonest conduct
in connection with the match race be-
tween Bearcatcher, Handzarra and
Cruzados. We find, and the horsemen
preferring the charge admit, there is no
proof tending in any degree to show
that Mr.. Brooks made or was interested
in any bet or wager or could have in
any way profited by the result of that
race.
Second-Regarding the charge that
Mr.. Brooks made certain threats to
The Herald reporter, Davidson, we find
a slight difference in testimonies of
Mr.. Brooks and Mr.. Davidson on that
subject. The matter was, however, a
personal one and did not involve a
question of honesty or fair racing. Nh
Brooks judgment may have been at
fault III discussing a racing matter
with newspaper reporter, but there
is no evidence of any unfairness or dis
honesty in connection with it.
Th1rd-Regarding the charge that
MIR. Brooks assisted one c.. c. McCaf-
ferty in his attempt to claim the horse
Durbar the board finds that this in
wolves technically strict racing rule,
viz. that no checks shall be taken in
connection with the claims on SELL
Ing race and that no official shall render
assistance, financially or otherwise, to
an owner proposing to claim a horse
Guarantees Checks
The charge against Mr.. Brooks is
that he guaranteed two checks drawn
by the New California Jockey club to
Mr. c. c. McCafferty in order that Mr..
McCafferty might use said checks in
claiming the horse. These checks were
unquestionably good and would have
been cashed by the association had they
been offered at the office.
The limited time allowed for claim
ing WIZ, fifteen minutes) and the alb
sence of the bookkeeper from the of
nee made it impossible for Mr.. McCaf-
ferty to get his checks cashed to make
t1e claim. Mr.. Brooks guaranteed these
enecks and the clerk of the scales and
MI. McCaHerty attempted to use them
IN making the claim. They were very
properly rejected by the judges and
the claim declared invalid.
The board is of the orinion that the
act or Mr.. Brooks in participating to
any extent whatever in a matter of this
character was very ill-advised. There
Is no question of honesty or integrity
involved in this matter and the charge
is only one of technical violation of a
rule.
As we have said, we regret Mr..
6rooks having even in so slight a de-
gree violated a rule, but are of the
opinion that, as the claim was not al
Owed and no injustice done TO anyone
no further action should be taken in
relation to the charge.
tourth--Regarding the charge that
hr. Brooks was interfering with other
'fhclals In the discharge of their duties.
we find no proof to sustain this claim.
The last charge against Mr.. Brooks.
VIZ, that he posted the following notice
N the office of the association and that
THIS notice was UP for twenty-four
hours was not denied. The complain
ng horsemen insist that this notice was
an insult to them and the board feels
mat It was unnecessarily rude and
severe The information intended to be
conveyed by the notice might have
been conveyed in certain and direct
language without the use of sarcasm
Or inuendo.
We find upon investigation that the
notice was put up at a time when the
handicapper and Mr.. Brooks had been
subjected to severe annoyance and that
the wording of the notice did not re-
ceive the consideration which should
have been given to such notice be-
fore publishing the same. The best
of this lies III the fact that the
notice was taken down the following
uay under orders from Mr.. Brooks him
self.
Charges Not Proven
In closing, the board finds that none
OF the charges refiecting on Mr.. Brooks
honor, honesty or integrity We're in any
degree sustained by the proofs offered
at the investigation. We do find. 8
above enumerated, that the Judgment
used by Mr.. Brooks disposing of two or
three minor matters was perhaps
faulty There is for this some excuse.
This race track and it's officials have,
during the current season, been sub
Iected to all the annoyances of one of
the bitterest feuds between owners and
trainers ever known on the American
turf.
1t has involved many horsemen of
excellent character and has drawn in
at one time or another and on one side
or another, many men who have never
been involved in turf wars before
Charges and counter charges have
been daily occurrence and all the Of
fcials have been placed under the
severest strain by reason of this fact.
Much Of this strain has fallen upon Mr..
Brooks, and your board has no doubt
that under stress of circumstances his
judgment may have been warped in a
minor matter, but, as we have said, in
no instance has proof been offered that
he has profted by any act of his or
that his honor, honesty or integrity has
been in any way impeached.
In closing the board takes this op-
to criticise the action of the
i've gentlemen signing these charges
against Mr.. Brooks, to wit: Mr.. Van
Meter Mr.. Mcdaniel, Mr.. Wood, Mr..
Boots and Mr.. McCafferty, for calling
/ meeting Of the newspaper reporters
IN Sunday afternoon on the grounds
belonging to this association for
he purpose of entertaining these
Newspaper reporters and furnishing