New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-08
Nothing Thereafter Was To Be
Obtained from Banker on
Racing Lobby Fund.
TESTIMONY CAUSES SMILES
Jockey Clubs Chairman, Ex-
planning a Check, Tells Of
Missionary Work Among
Clergymen."

ing committee yesterday afternoon for
the purpose OF clearing up the apparent
discrepancies between his testimony az
previous session and that given a day
later by Frank K Sturgis. the treasurer
of the Jockey Club. OF which Mr.. Bel
mont is chairman
NJ Linn Bruce counsel 10 the CON-
mittee. who examined Mr. Belmont.
aroused his ire TO such an extent that
the examination produced little thar has
not been brought out with other wit
nesses on the inquiry into the alleged
lobby fund Of the racing interests ex-
cept the bankers explanation OF one
small detail of the funds expended IN
1903 by Amasa ThCrnston-
Mr. Thornton. it appeared. received
$3.50 from the Westchester Racing Asso-
citation in 1908 which was charged 10.
publicity account and in his letter TO
Mr. Belmont on March > of that year
he requested that the payment be made
by the bankers personal check. rather
than by the checks Of the racing asso-
ciation-
quite a number Of Clergymen that he
knew explained Mr. Belmont regard
ing this item. believed We were con-
Quoting racing in a proper way. and II
was understood that they would Use'Jneir
Influence when occasion required with
representatives they could see He
would come to me and get particular in
formation and then see these ciergyulen-
/. was a sort of missionary work among
cIergymen. II was a very small mat
ter
Mr.. Belmont explained all this in r1os-
rnatter-Of-fact tones. without smile.
and treated It altogether in serious
vein. in spite of the amusement II caused
among his hearers
Question Brings Disaster.
Finally Mr.. Bruce led him 70 a sum-
ing up of the 1908 campaign fund OF the
racing associations. but his opening
orestion along that line brought disaster
so far as keeping the banker in mood
where he would freely answer questions
Bv the addition of payments made 70
Mr.. Thornton Maurice Mint0n- W b
F4rnter. G. ]. Fitzgerald and the Jockey
f,T-1b. Mr. Bruce estimated thar the
vvestchester Racing Association OF
which Mr.. Belmont is president. had
paid about $1,000 for so-cal!ed pub
ucfty'' IN 1908
In another fund Of which previous
witnesses had testified. there was So
600 and Of the S31. 600 of IT which had
been spent $1,000 had gone for pub
1icftv.s This fund was in the custody
of Mr. Sturgis. but was disbursed on or
der Of Mr.. Belmont Judge Bruce want
al IN have MIR. Belmont say that the
s17 600 on the books of the Westches%e-
association was in addition 70 the Al---
600 spent on the same kind OF an ac-
count from the fund handled by Mr.
S,urgis. but Mr.. Belmont ju1nred 70 the
conclusion that when Mr. Bruce men
toned the sum Of $4,000 he was re-
rarrins to the so. .29O collected and paid
% Tudxe E. P. Coyne for legal services
IN 1908.
why do yoI-ask me that! demanded
NJ Belmont In response to judge
Bruce's question You're trying to con-
fuse me, and you're trying TO conr1ls@
this nubI,city account with another ac-
count altogether
Judge Bruce begged his pardon but
the banker was obdurate-
IT tell you that I'm not the treasurer
=. the westchester association You had
tho treasurer on the stand. you had the
checks, vouchers and books. and no~
von.re trying TO make II appear, from
the fac. that I can't answer you about
s,,ch detail. that there is ConCealrnent.
declared Nj. Belmont. IN a heated man
mar .sYour Mr.. KreseI has been through
r. an and he knows more about II risht
now than do
He declared that he wouldn't answer
,,,, such questions and repeated again
that Judge Bruce was trying TO trip
him Up
Bruce Gives Up in Despair.
you're Just trying TO confuse me- NJ
-e,ea+sd. and a moment later judge
Rr,1ce gave up the examination
He gave Mr.. Belmont the opportunity
20 s+ate ANYTHING for the record that he
desired before leaving the stand and the
,a,I.ar took the chance 70 repeat the
.,,ts.ance of the remarks that had
started the trouble
II desire TO state he said. that the
treasurer of the association was here
,ysrx possibIe voucher. check and ex-
,IanatiOn was given I don't know as
1,urb as these careful records SHOW. and
therefore the questions YOU ask me are
that there is something
xro1v Of which is not on the records
Judge Bruce took one last chance az
,<,,,.tnrinc the witness of his mistake III
,,,dsins- his motives in that way. He ex-
claimed that the vouchers didu't show
.bs details of the service performed
"Oh. that didn't seem 10 be the pur-
,ort Of the questions" was Mr. Bel
nont's parting shot
BEFORE the air became thick Win the
heat of Mr.. Belmonts anger. the coun-
20, had been over with him the ground
covered by other witnesses concerning
The EXPENSES of the racing associations
IN lighting the Agnew-Hart law
When Mr.. Belmont took the stand. ne
rad into the record his letter OF Tues
sav TO Judge Bruce. the substance OF
wbSxh appeared in The Tribune On Mon
day.