New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-15
A. A. U. HEADS
GRILL SMITH
AND KIvIAT
Chief Witness in Trial for
Professionalism Absent
from Hearing.

Abel p. Kiviat, Of the Irish American
Athletic Club, and Harry J. Smith. Of
Bronx Church House. two men who
represented this country in tho
Olympic games in Stockholm, stand in
the shadow Of conviction on charges of
professionalism.
For more than two hours and a hall
they wero grilled By the registration
committee CT tho Metropolitan Associa-
tion of the Amateur Athletic Union, 81
Madison Avenue, last night, but no evil
dence could be produced which was
deemed convincing. The committee re-
served judgment, and adjourned 20
meet again on October %.
The case Of the prosecution was
weakened by the absence Of Roscoe {.
Campbell, the official Handicapped IN
Troy. IL was alleged that Campbell re-
ceiyed letters from kiviat demanding
s75 expense money, and from Harry j.
Smith $50 for competing in the Eastern
New York Athletic League games held
at Schenectady on September Is.
Campbell, IL was said last night, was
unable TO leave his business 10 attend
the meeting. He is an employe in the
Troy postoffice. Vacations have dimin-
ished the force TO minimum, and he
could not secure leave OF absence. In
the event of his being unable 70 leave
his post on the date C. the next meet
irg the registration committee will 90
TO Troy.
With the principal witness Of the
prosecution far from the scene OF ae-
ton. the evidence was largely in the
nature of hearsay. The men argued
back and forth al cross purposes, and
il may always be remembered that un-
sworn evidence carries little slgnlh-
canoe. Letters were produced which
were alleged TO have been written by
Kiviat and Smith
Smith admitted having written 20
Campbell, but when confronted with
several letters bearing the signature OF
a Harry Smith which it is charged he
wrote, he answered evasively and de-
clined 70 identify any of them, although
they referred specifically 10 competing
in the meet which caused the upheaval
which may shake amateur athletics 20
It's foundation stones. kiviat also adj
mitted writing to Campbell anent the
meet, but insisted that his correspon-
dence referred TO an order for the
prizes, which he solicited for the firm
employing him.
That which carried the most sweep
ing indictment against Smith was
printed phrase in the letter which is
alleged TO have been written by him:
at would have 10 be 40 bucks" This
was incorporated in the letter at
point where room had apparently been
left for il. II was printed in ink,
which under the electric light was
identical with that with which the let
ter had been written.
II was on that particular phrase that
the registration committee laid great
est stress. They strove to add power
20 their point by pointing out that
Smith had in as many words, stryen
TO play off another athletic meeting
against this. They produced letters
written previously. and one especially,
said 20 have been written by Smith.
which declared that whatever he got
would have to be more than kiviat got
before"
The note on which charges were made
against Xiviat. the one in which he ~
alleged 70 have demanded SIS for eS-
pense money from Campbell. could no.
be produced. IL was declared that he
had inserted this slip in one Of his
business letters. ne committee IN
sisted that il was significant circum-
stance that on September %. at which
time these charges were brewing. bu'
at which time no mention Of names
had been made. that Kiviat went 10
Troy. although the runner insisted
that he had gone to that city TO COM
pete in a set of games.
Several letters were introduced in
the evidence against Kiviat. In one o.
these was written that the race in
which he was 10 have competed on Sep
TENDER IL against Homer Baker. Ted
Meredith and Norman Taber was frat
postponed because Of an injury 10
Baker and the retirement OF Meredith
and Taber, and then abandoned because
"of Kiyiat's demands"