The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-08
AUGUST BELMONT IS
 AGAIN UNDER FIRE
Banker Is Asked To Explain
 Jockey Clubs Expenses
FIVE OF THE QUESTIONS
Mir. Belmont Testifies To Expenditures By Racing Associations But Refuses To Answer When
 Pressed Too Hard


 New York, December As chair nan of the Jockey club and leader If tie racing interests of New York state during the years when this sport was under thes hottest legislative fire, Au- E gust Belmont was asked today to fur nisa the missing links in the chain Of evidence aAduced from minor off eers of various racing organizations by the committee that is seeking proof of Legislative corruption.
 Mir. Belmont was recalled to the l stand at his own request but after he had carried out his purpose by en- phatically denying any implication that 1 he was concerned in alleged question: able opposition to the anti-racing bills, he was obliged to withstand a fire of questions hy NJ. Lin Bruce, attorney for the Investigating committee. At the end oe an hours steady examination the witness absolutely refused to tes ttfy further He declared that Judge Bruces questions were not asked in good faith but for the purpose of con-
 
 The committee attorney asserted | that he lad no such purpose; and not only suspended his examination but told tEe witness that he would have the opportunity to look over his testi- mony and make any corrections he might desire. MT. Belmont added little to the sum of information already gathered by the committed Ger orally the questions to him were designated to interpret for mer statemen's by treasurers and sec retaries ef tn, racing club who had not been able 10 tell the committee what sums they expended and when they spent them, but failed when 1t come to a question of what for
 Asked To Explain
 AIr. Belmont was asked to give more itemized explanation of the ex- penses which former witnesses had said were incurred for legal purposes. He told who performed the Jockey clubs legal work but gave no details of their methods.
 A personal check for s25o which he gave to Amasa Thornton, a New York lawyer. for publicity" work, was the only specific sum the final destination of which he ever suggested. MT. Bel mont testified that MT. Thornton knew a number of clergymen who believed the racing associations ware conducting racing in a respectable manner and this money was used to spread their views.
 Ut was used then for missionary work among clergymen?" suggested Mr. Bruce.
 Mr. Belmont replied that it might have been used to pay the expenses 9f the clergymen who attended legis- lative hearings on racing bills at AL baHy.
 "Wlo," said Judge Bruce. had charge Of the expenditures for the Jockey club and the racing associa- tons of money to defeat the Agnew- Hart anti-1acIng billt" That was the year Judge E. P. Coyne was at Albany" replied MT. Bel mont.
 Payment To Judge Coyne
 Juoge Bruce read the testimony of Frank K. Sturgis, treasurer of the Jockey club, that the organizations legal expenses had been approved by Mr. Belmont who, Sturgis said, had dlrecteo payment or S-V,oVV to JuoBe Coync.
 T can't tell you why he (sturgis) said that,9 said MT. Belmont. Ut is not a fact
 MT. Belmont said that Judge Coyne lad been recommended by former Con gt essman James ". Wadsworth as a rian well fitted to guard the interests of the racing clubs. Coyne devoted all his time to the legal side of racing matters l l,i fot d. i ing 190S received $40.000.
 Whom did he actually represent?' ''The combined racing interests" What was he doing in Albany all this time?'
 He remained there and attended hear ings. Counsel had rather a free hand in doing what they deemed best"
 For what purpose was the fund of slO.O0O (testified to by a former witness), raised in 19OS?''
 ''To promote a proper understanding about racing and to promote the sport" said the witness.
 No Items Remembered
 He said he could not remember any of the items in the bills presented for this work in fact no detailed statements were given Twelve thousand dollars were spent for publicity out of the s40,000 fund raised in 190S.'i
 
 Chester association include any great part of this?" MT. Bruce asked.
 'Why did you ask me that?" demanded MI. Belmont. You did it because you wanted to mslead me- | lead me-
 "Oh, no. l had no such intention" he responded.
 'The figures have been juggled," pur- sueu Mir Belmont. until l am confused anG I guess everyone else is. You jump iron. one question to another. You know the answers 10 every single question. You l have all the papers; everything has been furnished and I decline to answer any l further"
 Mir. Belmont then left the stand.
 Important Book Lost
 Eugh x. Kirkland, cashier of the Mu- tual bank, where the Metropolitan Turf association has it's accounts. surprised the committee by saying that the ledger containing the account from January to July 1, 1908, was lost.
 This is most unfortunate said Judge Bruce "It is the very book we want which would show the expenditures of the Metropolitan Turf association. How was it lost?'
 1T believe it was carried out in the garbage
 John Coakley, second accountant in the barking house of August Belmont, and assistant treasurer of the Westchester as socation, was asked;
 will you turn to the Westchester as sociations legal expense account book and tell us what its legal expenses were in 1e07?'
 "They were $1s.062.
 How much in 19OS?''
 They were s39,3 ,34o."