Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-07-05
NOTED PLUNCER
T0REGA|N RICHES
Newt Bennington, Once Fa.
miliar Turf Figure, Released
From Sanitarium.

NEW YORk, July o'-14Ahc q iiioiA
tror, the grave. W. Newton Benning-
ton once possessor of fortune of
a. 5oo 200. amassed largely through
snsctacular turf plunges, has reap
nsared in this city. His fortune has
been practically swept away. His
health however has been restored to
him after long stage of mental and
nbvsieal illness lasting five years dur
Inc which he was confined in several
sanitariums and hospitals.
However, | thank God that am
alive" he said yesterday to a reporter.
90 needed a long rest and I have had
a. Now l weigh more than 17N pounds,
and I'm going to plunge back into
business again. You know that I al
vavs knew lot about real estate
Though people spoke of me mostly
as a turf celebrity.
81 have $4,000 worth of real estate
,ef of my fortune It is distributed in
this state and in New Jersey With
mis- money expect to begin my finan-
cial rehabilitation. You'll hear them
sneak again of Million Dollar Ben
nington' in a year or two.
Bennington in appearance is still the
"tar plunger" whose nod to a book
maker during the heyday Of his turf
career meant a five figure bet on Bel
dame. DeMund or another of the great
horses that raced under his colors.
New York Looks Good to Him.
New York looks as good to me as
snring to a desert goat continued
+be man who insists that he is still
lucky Bennington. Il have known
nothing of it practically during the
past FIVE years.
q went to Dr. Combes sanitarium in
Finishing during the summer of 1907, as
YOU may remember. This was follow
ing number of reverses and after
nervous breakdown.
when l left DR.. Combes' I took UP
my tangled business affairs again.
few weeks later came the accident
which came within a gamblers ace of
costing me my life 1 went to Cobalt,
Canada. with friends to inspect property
there in which we had an interest.
While walking alone 1 fell over cliff
which fell away sheer three hundred
feet Fortunately, l was caught in
some tangled bushes which grew out
Of the side of the cliff, and I escaped
with my life
81 was so badly hurt, however, that
entered Dr. Bulls sanitarium when l
returned to New York. After leaving
DR. Bulls I decided to give my shat
tered nerves another chance to heal by
re-entering DR. Combes' sanitarium. In
June. 1901 left Dr. Combes' place in.
hack l thought that we were going
to the Erie railroad, where I was to
take a train for my home in Cornwall
For some strange reason the hackman
drove to the Ontario and Western rail
road station and I found myself aboard
train for Middletown, n. Y.
Won 100000 in Four Years.
Il haven't the slightest idea who gave
the hackman the order to drive to the
o & W station. I am sure it was not
Dr. Combes or my wife.
Anyway, when / got to Middletovn
! found that 1 was consigned to the
State Homeopathic hospital there. l
have been there for the past two years
] had a private room, was we'll cared
for and for time was satisfied be-
cause knew that needed a good, long
rest"
Newt Bennington, six years ago, was
one Of the most conspicuous figures in
the Wall Street district and on the turf
In his heyday he was a chum of Gates
Drake, Davy Johnson and others whose
bets on a single race often totaled
100000.
Bennington's career on the turf was
most spectacular. With Fred Bellew
he won 100000 in stake winnings in
one period of four years. He con-
trolled the services of Frank ONein
who was for seasons one of the most
successful Of Jockeys. This combina-
zion was dazzling in it's pecuniary re-
SUITS. Bennington won a fortune in
purses with the great colt DeMund be-
lore ne sold him for $4,000 to Paul ]
Raney.
bennington married Bessie Taylor,
wen known actress, seven years ago.
MRS Bennington is said to be at pres
emf in Chicago.