Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24
IN STRENUOUS TIMES
EXPLOITS OF THE DEMAS GANG
ON THE TRoTTING TURF.
BY i. d. Sale.

Mr. {. G. Pettus in a recent article in
The Sunday Star related how the James
brothers raided the pool box at the Kansas
City fair upward of thirty years ago The
story wildly recalled to the minds of all
old-timers a horse well known in this BALI
wick-the little black mare Cozette, 219
The horse with which Corrigan won the
race at Kansas City when the James
brothers raided the gate receipts was called
Dictator, being formerly named Huckle-
berry. Corrigan changed his name when
he bought the horse. The race took place
September 20, 1877. 1t was the usual
frame-up on the part of the Demas gang to
get the better of the pool box as in
square race Cozette could beat Corrgans
gelding any part of the miles trotted. The
fastest heat was in 20 and the slowest in
2.2, and Cozette could trot around 2.25 all
day. most. if necessary. In the five heats
trotted Little Fred won the first made the
second dead one with Dictator. and in the
remaining heats Little Fred was bang-up
second. Cozette, driven by George w.
Voorhis of Detroit, was third each heat.
Mr.. Voorhis. who at one time was known
wherever there was a trotting track in the
United States, is still alive, keeps a club
house near Detroit and has ample leisure
to reflect on the strenuous life he once led.
In the later seventies early eighties
Cozette raced at Ivy City, and some of the
natives went down on her, bob. line and
sinker. Foaled in the province of ontario.
Canada, along in 1870, her sire was Bloom
berg's Bashaw; her dam a pacing mare of
Canadian blood. Before being brought to
the United States in 1875 she had gained a
local reputation a fast PAGER. But as
PAGERS in those days in the states. and
N W. er he
mare was subsequently owned, were not
popular as they are today, she was con-
verted to the trot at which gait she
fast for the period In which SIZE performed,
retiring with mark of .. 49, which Is equal
to 2.15 or better under modern conditions
During all her long days on the turf she
was controlled by desperate a set of
men as the James brothers ever dared be.
even in their pamiest days Her putative
owner was ]. NJ. French. but the men who
outlined and controlled her erratic career
were the celebrated John Demas, a man OF
French ancestry, ward politician and a
notorious gambler. who had previously
killed man on the Mississippi river.
Her driver and trainer was quite as no
torious others of the gang-"Red Bill
McLaughiin-a fearless giant capable of
overawtng ordinary men and a willing tool
of the men who paid him for his work and
paid him we'll. All of the principals men
toned have been dead many years. but
their memory and their deeds are still fresh
in the minds Of those who followed the
few and rarely ever obeyed: when every
thing went from throwing a man .over
the fence" down to knocking opposing
driver from the sulky with the butt of a
whip If it was seen that the other fellow
was going to win the heat.
1t was about this period. too, that noted
driver was killed on a Chicago track after
dark by thugs, VINO, while he on the
backstretch and apparently winning the
heat placed a plank in front of him, which
he hit with such force while going at speed
that he fell to the ground and was picked
up dead. 1t was because of this foul deed
that, when the National Trotting Associa-
ton was formed and the grand circuit of
today was organized, all racing was forbid
den after sunset.
Red Bill came near getting his quietus
at place In Michigan called Bad Axe. in
1876. He had wilfully and maliciousiy ''cut
down. the well-known "Nosey" Brown in
heat In the Dds trot while driving Co.
zette. Browns mare being the favorite 1t
being the deciding heat and the judges APP
parentIy standing In with RED Biz dt
was afterward claimed that the judges had
their money down on Cozette), the hackers
of Browns mare became so enraged that
they seized Mclaughlin, put rope around
his neck, and were about to string him IN
to pine tree when Red Bll's" hackers
suddenly appeared with guns cooked and
demanded his release which they secured.
and quickly got out of town.
The next week, at the old Hamtramck
track. Detroit. the drivers on the circuit
framed scheme to get rid of Bill for
good. fearless man was selected with
the stoutest sulky that could be had The
horses had just received the word and were
making the first turn when there came a
loud crash as If two freight trains had col
lided. An instant later Red Biz was seen
TO form parabolic curve fifteen feet in the
air, and then strike the ground on his head
and shoulders. With blood streaming from
ears. nostrils and mouth he was Carried
senseless from the infield and laid under
the grand stand. A few pals of ice water
brought him TO his senses in the course of
thirty minutes.
AS he opened his eyes the only reproach
he uttered for his rough treatment was:
Boys, ye oughtn done it.'