New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-13
FIND ''SHEP" GUILTY
IMPLICIT SIXTY, DAYS.
Great Runners Suspension
Dates Back, HOWeucr.

middle distance runner Of the Irsh-Amer-
can Athletic Club, was found guilty of two
of the nine charges and suspended for
sixty days al the close of the third hear
ing before the trial committee Of tho Mill
tary Athletic League yesterday afternoon.
AS the penalty dates firm the day of the
first trial hearing, which was held on
January IS. Sheppard will be an amateur
runner in good standing once more on and
after March 2S.
The Sheppard trial dates back to a set
of games in Philadelphia, on December II
OF last year, when the Irish American
athlete incurred the displeasure of the Off
Gals of the Pennsylvania division of the
Military Athletic League. Captain Joseph
Knapp Nichols of Philadelphia, subscribed
to charges filed against Sheppard accus
ing him of unfair dealing, of unbecomng
language. Of demanding excessive expense
money. Of refusing TO deal directly with
the management of the games and of re-
! fusing 10 compete against William Hayes.
/ These charges were filed with the Military
Athletic League here.
( Sheppard testified in his own defence be
| fore the committee at the third hearing,
held Yesterday afternoon in the list Regi-
ment Armory. He was nearly forty minutes
late, and when he entered the room his
counsel was reading the testimony of GER
tain witnesses who made dispositions in the
case in Philadelphia, on March ;. He
smiled broadly when he heard the con
versation he was alleged to have had with
certain officials at the games. He appeared
perfectly at ease throughout the hearing
and answered all questions in calm and
straightforward manner
He testified that in spite of the fact that
! the officials of the games in Philadelphia
! kept him waiting in his running suit from
/ 10 o'clock, when his event was supposed
/ TO be run off. until Il As, lie used no violent
/ or abusive language. Although he was
shivering with the cold, he merely urged
the officials several times TO allow the
/ race to be run off and -alked IN a gentle
/ manly manner.
| So far as the charge made against him
/ that he refused TO compete against William
Hayes went, he said that Hayes had writ
! ten him few days before the meet ex-
! planning that he was displeased at the
officials for advertising that he intended TO
run without serving him any notice and
! that he didn't propose to go to Phiade-
/ phia. Sheppard said he went down TO
! show the officials that he was ready TO
run Hayes or any other man who might
/ be entered
Thomas O'Donnel and James Hepburn,
OF Philadelphia. two friends of Sheppard,
testified in his behalf before the committee
/ yesterday. They we're with the athlete
most of the time during the evening. and
said that his manner was not excited nor
did he, 50 far as they knew, use any vio-
lent language to the officials
At the end of the hearing counsel for
Sheppard said that the athlete was willing
TO make public apology to the committee
for anything which he might have done at
the meet from which they could possibly
have taken offence The committee had
previously decided not 20 accept any
apology from Sheppard until the trial was
ever.
in regard to his expense money, the
athlete said that the committee which ar
ranged the games, offered him $50 to cover
his expenses He said he never asked for
more. and even returned the check when
he found that he did not need TO spend all
of the money which had been allowed him.
He admitted that he displeascd with
the attitude Of the officials there, and
would not take any money from them. He
/ said he never received prize for the race
he ran al The meet.
At the opening Of the hearing counsel for
/ Sheppard took up in detail the dispositions
which were made In Philadelphia on March
> and asked 10 have them rejected by the
committee. 1t seems that Captain Joseph
X. Nichols, who preferred the charges
against Sheppard took a number Of Wit
nesses before a notary public in Phila-
delphia and questioned them as to Shep-
pard's acts and attitude on the night Of
December II. Counsel argued that Captain
Nichols was acting accuser and Judge
in both filing the charges and conducting
an examination of the witnesses
When the case was all in the jury retired
ana was out for some time, but finally re-
turned, finding Sheppard guilty on two
T counts.