Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-03

Jockey Club, an organization which
absolutely controls and sanctions horse
| racing throughout the United States
were produced before the joint legis-
lativc investigating committee this af-
ternoon and showed that in 1906, 1907
and 1908, the club expended 100000
| for legal expenses, advertising and
maintaining press bureau. This total
was shown by entries from three ac-
counts, numbered l, 2 and 3.
According to the entries the heaviest
expenditure came in 1907, the year pre-
| ceding the passage of anti-betting
bills. In that year by the entries the
legal expenses of the Jockey Club were
$l75,620. The year previous they were
$92,642, and in 1908, the year in which
the Hughes legislation finally passed
by one vote, they were $4,000, paid out
| Of a special fund.
Frank X. Sturgis, treasurer Of the
Jockey Club. testified that all these
disbul sements were at the personal d.
rcction of August Belmont chairman
of the Jockey Club, and that $42,29O
of the special fund was paid to f. z,
| Coync, d lawyer recommended to the
club by James w. Wadsworth, IT,,
speaker of the Assembly.
The books of the Metropolitan Turf
Association, composed Of makers of
books on the races, were not produced
as had been directed, because John j.
Evans, treasurer of the association
said that none were kept. He admit
| ted in his testimony, however, that the
association still has invested d fund of
Sl20,0O0
SturGis was asked to explain the ma
ture of the three accounts, numbered
| 1, and 5. He said that No. | repre-
scented monies spent by the Jockey
| club in its own interests. that No. :
| contained expenditures made III behalf
Of other racing associations contribute
| ing to the Jockey Club. and that No.
| 3, was for joint expenditures.
an 1908 did the Jockey Club pay
| legal expenses for the various racing
associations" Mr.. Linn Bruce. chief
| counsel for the committee asked
Sturgi..
yes, it raised $4,000 for that pur-
pose.
What became OF the special fund
of $4,000"
1T was expended for advertising
and in maintaining a press bureau"
"Who expended it,
Mr.. August Belmont"
ITO whom did you draw the
Checks?'
ITO Mr.. August Belmont
AT whose instance?'
AT Mr.. August Belmont's.'
You gave the checkS?'
| I .fafo
| Belmont of how he expended that
money"
But you have no personal knowl-
"dge of how he expended it,"
| NO"
"On July /. 1907, check was made
payable to L. T. Coyne for $4,000
| What was this for
| Legal expenses
Other payments to Coync were
read from the books and the witness
testified that he made them al Mr.
August Belmont's instance" and only
knew they were fer legal expenses
i8eceipted bills were then produced
showing that Coyne had been paid
S42,29o in 1907 and 1908 For appear
ing before legislative committees op-
posing adverse legislation. consuita-
tons with various Legislators and
members of the Jockey Club"
One bill read for $4,000 and was
lated Jan. Is, 1868.
of your own knowledge, YOU can't
tell what services Mr.. Coyno did for
this SAP 29O?''
was recommended by Mr.. Wads
worth"
| There was a stir in the chamber
at the mention of that name and
counsel was quick to ask:
Which enc, father or SOM"
The son." replied the witness.
James Wadsworth, Jr was speaker
of the Assembly at the last session
of the Legislature and during the
night against the racing bills. He
was present at the hearing on
Wednesday when August Belmont
said that the testimony previously
heard before the committee that
rich members of the Jockey Club
had raised d fund of 100000 WAS nh.
surd.
Aigonon Dangerfield secretary of the
| Jockey Club, who followed DR.. Sturpis
on the stand. testified as to the contrib J.
| tions of the various associations to the
Jockey Club fund. All but the Westches
ter and the Brighton associations, he
said, contributed to the $4,000 special
fund. He had never seen any bills to
| show where the money went
The Metropolitan Jockey Club, he testi-
fed, paid $13,401 into the general treas
ury in 1908 for % days racing, the West
chester Association $4,000 for 30 DAYS,
the Coney Island and the Brooklyn Jock
ey Clubs about $4,000 each, the Queens
and Saratoga associations about $4,000
! each and the Brighton Beach about ST.
OOO