New-York tribune., 1910-11-30
ANGRY At
METHOD Of SERVICE
Tells Committee 1t Might Have
Made Him Appear Unwilling
to Testify.
TALKS FULLY ON STAND
Calls Story of 100000 Fund
and Dinner a Ludicrous Myth
Whitney and Keene Both
in Europe Now.

With August Belmont as the star VIII
ness. the legislative investigating com
mittee resumed its inquiry yesterday by
going into the alleged lobby of the racing
interests and its fight against the
Aenew-Hart bills OF the 1908 session.
Mr. Belmont gave his business as that of
banker" and admitted connection with
the Westchester Racing Association, as
nresident. and with the Jockey Club, as
chairman.
He characterized the inquiry as per-
secution, and declared that to ask the
racing men men Of standing in this
communfty," whether they knew any
thing about a bribery fund which was
said to have been raised at what ne
called a mythical dinner was tanta-
mount to a suspicion that they might be
concerned and he repelled that with
great deal of contempt.
However, Mr. Belmont spoke in mild
voice, and smiled blandly at Judge
Bruce counsel for the committee, as ne
reiterated his belief that the nature of
the inquiry was ridiculous. and he added
that he believed the rumors of bribery
were fostered and furthered by those
who We're in favor of the bills so as to
drive all good men away from the idea OF
standing against them.
The ALLEGED half million dollar lobby
fund of the racing interests, which it was
said had been raised at the Delmonico
meeting. was what Mr.. Belmont particu-
larly characterized as ludicrous and he
said he thought the very size of the al
legged fund, though he did not refer to it
definitely, would be enough to convince
any one that it was mythical and
ridculous'
Most Willing of Witnesses.
For the most part he spoke without
prompting or questioning OF any kind,
and proved to be the most willing wit
ness that has appeared before the com
mittee. He scorned the inferred sugges-
| ton from Judge Bruce that Harry Payne
t Whitney and James R. Keene had tried
TO evade the subpenas of the committee.
| and complained of the way Il subpoena
had been served upon him. He was
willing to appear at any time, he said.
Apart from the examination of Mr.
! Belmont, the session was devoted mainly
to an investigation of the books Of. the
| Coney Island Jockey Club, with Victor
| Schaunbtrg. it's secretary. on the stand.
| The clubs books were not by any mea Ms
| exhausted, however, when the midday
| recess time was reached and the COM
mittee will go further into them to-day.
| Ex-senator William H. Reynolds. presi-
| dent of the Metropolitan Jockey Club.
! was another witness whose eXamina ton
was begun. but not completed. He Will
! be on the stand again to-day.
! The officials of the Title Guarantee and
/ Surety Company, of Scranton. Penn.
| which went on the bond Of ex-senator
| Frank j. Gardner under his indictment
| for attempted bribery, were examined in
vain effort to learn who put up S10,-
900 cash to secure the bonding company
against possible loss. The Onus of this
was finally placed upon one George T.
! Williams. of Elrnhurst, Long Island" by
! cidls, but who he was they could not say.
According to their story he simply
walked into their offices. took out $40
! 600 in currency and told them he wanted
| Gardner bond They took it and issued
! the bond. but they swore they did not
| know Williams and merely gave him
| d receipt for the money in the name
| :.l h. h,,l .tn,, l.;