Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-08
Agent of Racing Bodies Tells
of "Missionary Work."
GRAFT INQUIRY WITNESS
Reported Conditions at Some Tracks
to Mr.. Belmont.
CHARGED $3.50 FOR SERVICES
Treasurer of Metropolitan Turf As
ISOLATION Says He Has No Records
Of Financial Transactions.

NEW YORK. December S.-The mis-
sionary work among clergymen," which
August Belmont yesterday acknowledged
was performed by an agent of the rae
ing associations, was explained before the
legislative graft investigating committee
today by the man who did the work,
Amasa Thornton, a New York lawyer.
Witnesses had testified that Mr.. Thorn
Racing Association for legal services"
while the anti-race track bill was pend
ing in the legislature.
Like Mr.. Belmont, Mr.. Thornton was
called to testify at his own request. His
statement on the stand today was as FOL-
lows:
''In a conversation with several minis
tiers In the fall Of 1906 the question came
up of the conduct of racing at Aqueduct.
The secretary Of one OF these gentlemen
suggested l go down there. l found about
:, 800 women and 1000 men there. didn't
like the way the crowds were acting, es-
pecially the women. l went back to the
church people and reported to them. l
knew Mr.. Belmont and called on him. l
told him of conditions as l found them
there. In response to questions l told him
taken from the grandstands SO that wom-
en- could not bet a good thing would be
done. This was done in 1907. 1 won't say
it was the result OF my visit to Mr.. Bel
mont.
Saw Eight Clergymen.
lone day in the fall Of 1908 1 received
telephone call from Mr.. Belmont s
Office and went there at his request.
saw some ministers and I made reports
to Mr.. Belmont, and charged him $3.50 for
my services"
why did you write a letter to Mr..
Belmont asking for his personal check?'
asked Judge Bruce, attorney for the COM
mittee.
Il considered that I had been retained
by Mr.. Belmont. l remember writing the
letter, but Mr.. Belmont refused to give
me his personal check, and gave me one
on the Westminster Racing Association:
How many clergymen did you see."
'Some eight or ten"
Did you write articles for any religious
papers,
NO
Corrects Former Testimony.
Frank Sturgis took the stand for 4 min.
ute to correct his former testimony,
which disagreed with that OF Mr.. Bel
mont.
J. ]. Evans, treasurer of the Metroyol-
itan Turf Association, the bookmakers'
organizat ton, was next called. When IN.
formed that the ledger Of the Mutual
Bank. which contained the records Of his
accounts in 1908, had been lost, Mr.. Ev-
ans said:
II am surprised to hear that It seems
strange that it should be lost, when you
recall that most Of our books and &C.
counts have been destroyed. In April,
1908, we were cleaning house at the club,
and had whole lot Of old papers and
Junk. / told the janitor to burn them,
and he took me at my word and destroyed
everything
Destroyed All Vouchers.
"He destroyed all your vouchers and
checks for 1905, and before that time, did
hep
He did
Haven't you any records at ALP
Il haven't, but suppose our secretary,
Mr.. Tim Sullivan, has"
Evans brought some checnbook stubs
from April, 1903. and later. One stub
showed that In October. 1908. Michael J.
Ryan of Philadelphia, lawyer, had re-
ceived 5000.
What was this for?' he was asked.
"A death fund for the widow Of q man
named Duffy" answered Evans.