Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-01
SWIMMING TANGLE
PROBED BY A.A.U.
CHARGES AGAINST HENRY ARE
GIVEN PUBLIC HEARING
AQUATIC FOLLOWERS SUPPORT
SECRETARY
Personal Animosity Is unearthed In
Rehearsal of AlIeeations-con1-
mittee VIII Make Report
Wednesday

At A meeting of the special COMMIT
tee appointed by Southern cam ne nc
branch of the A. A. U. held last night
at the rooms of the Los Angeles AIN
letic club the charges filed against oec-
rotary Leslie Henry of the SoutneIh
California Swimming association WIZ
threshed out and after lively session
in which personalities figured more
prominently than specific statement OF
alleged improper conduct the meetlhS
adjourned, leaving the committee TO
submit a report on the matter TO the
amateur commission at It's meetlng
next Wednesday night at the T. M
G. A.
Henry was supported as booster
for swimming and clean sport by sew
eral members of the swimming assocla-
ton who were present and spoke IN
his behalf. No charges except. those
filed by Lawrence came up, ana the
meeting developed largely into a per-
sonal fight between the two principals
with bitter feeling injected by Law
renee at every stage. Henry's handIng
of the swimming association in con-
Quoting several championship events
was attacked, and in long letter TO
the committee Lawrence went INTO
particulars concerning a roulette game
which was held at one of the meetings
of the Water Polo league, also in the
hands of Henry, alleging that Henry,
by acting as banker, had preJud1ced
himself as promoter of aquatic sports.
Lawrence admitted having lost money
during the game mentioned.
Leaving out the personal illusions,
which consumed the greater part of
the evening, the affair simmered down
into charges that Henry had made
money out of the various swimming
contests held, had paid players money
nd haT.d1pn the cumming affairs
in an improper manner. Lawrence
asked that a special committee be ap-
pointed to take charge of swimming
for the southern branch of the A. A. u.
Henry denied every allegation of the
complaint and was backed up by the
swimmers present, the only source of
dissatisfaction evidently being Law
renee.
Only two members of the committee
were present, Father Martin of ST. Vim
cents and Prof Franklin of the Los
Angeles Athletic club. The latter ruled
consistency in favor of Lawrence, with
the exception of the roulette wheel in
extraneous matter. Henrys conduct
of the water sports, of which he is
practically the father in the southland,
was upheld by all swimmers present.
Dewitt Van Court, boxing instructor
of the Los Angeles Athletic club, spoke
in DEFENSE or HenryS conduct or
affairs, and cited instances of mistakes
of lack of knowledge of the rules, in
which he mentioned the fact that he
had taken boxers and swimmers to the
worlds fair at ST. Louis and was not
obliged to make a direct report to the
A. A. U. commission, but to the direc-
tors of the club, which he represented.
He also stated, in response to ques-
ton OF Henry, If he ever made report
personally of the expenditures in his
recent trip to San Francisco, in which
he was in charge of amateur boxers
representing the Los Angeles Athletic
club, that he kept a record of the ex-
pense account and turned 1t into the
club directors, but not to the A. A. u.
At the meeting Wednesday night the
matter will be further discussed, and it
is the general opinion that the charges
brought by Lawrence will be overruled
and that Henery will be eXonerated.
In such event Henry will be allowed to
proceed with the arrangements of hold
ing the coast championship tournament
of Southern California this summer.
Henry stated that his endeaVor is to
furnish prizes that will make the sport
interesting and bring out the best con-
testants, and that the request from the
Venice association for $1,000 for holding
the event in the beach town Is just and
will have the effect of bringing out the
most formidable competitors.
He states that his request is not ex-
brilliant, in view of the fact that thou
sands of dollars will be spent in other
contests during the athletic events In
connection with the Elks' carnival in
July.