The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-03-21
Oh! Yes, Raymond Al
/. 0. IT,, But, Stran9
He Just Can't
Remember a Thing
About What
Happened That
Night at Newport


the second son of August Belmont the
noted finsncier and sportsman, who made
many millions out Of the subway into
which New Workers are daily jammed and
packed.
Raymond's latest predicament is to be
sued for payment Of an II. o. u" for
$4,000, which he is alleged to have signed
after playing roulette unsuccessfully at
Newport That was away back in August,
1912, nearly eight years ago.
That was three months before Raymond
married the pretty chorus girl. Ethel Lor.
raine, from whom he was separated after
eight days of welded life.
It was at a period when Raymond was
doing many unconventional things I'm the
bohemian ,haunts Of New York and other
places-things Of which he does not like
to be reminded now and of which Mr.. Bel
mont, ST., does not like to hear in the least.
Since then Raymond has served with
credit in the army during the war and has
married beautiful and charming young
woman of the highest social position. And
now this escapade of nearly eight years
W6Os WIN many oSSOAPohyihS
stances, is brought before the courts, like
IN old skeleton, to disturb his peace, and
there is no avoiding 1t.
The strangest Of all the circumstances
connected with the suit is that while Mr..
Belmont admits that the I. o. U. is signed
by him, he declares that he has no recol.
lection whatever of having signed 1t and
has no recollection of ever having had the
pleasure Of meeting "Mr Edward w.
Rankin" who makes the claim. against
him.
Who is this mysterious Edward w.
Rankin" His real address and place Of
business" are concealed in his complaint.
Why has he waited for seven years and
. half before bringing his suit?
Why does he have the nerve" to bring
Q suit for a gambling debt when the law
states most explicitly that such debts can
not be collected?
Are there some concealed facts which
make 1t possible to collect the debt?
Why does not Mr.. August Belmont, who
has millions and has been a patron Of
sport and racing, pay his sons debt, even
II 1t is a gambling debt?
Has sport" any right to repudiate
gambling debt?
What was the condition Of Mr.. Ray.
mond Belmont in which he could not re-
member signing an l. o. U. for $4,000?
Who were the friends that accompanied
the young man and let him lose a large
sum of money when in such a very forget
full mood?
The mere shreds of fact that are avail
able concerning this old episode call up
a scene of wild revelry and extravaganza
in the fashionable Summer colony. How
much did Raymond Belmont lose before
he gave the l. o. u? How much did the
other men lose-or win?
Edward w. Rankin's complaint against
Raymond Belmont has been filed in the
New York Supreme Court by his attorney,
Henry Hickman, Of No. so Pine street It
is strangely short and states that Ray
mond Belmont gave the defendant an !. o.
u. for $4,000 in August, 1912; that pay
ment had been demanded and nothing had
been paid; wherefore plaintiff demands
judgment.
Raymond Belmont's answer made
through his attorney, Henry A. Uterhart,
of No. 81 Cedar street. contains little
more Information. After admitting that
the l. o. u. is signed by Belmont and
declaring that 1t is outlawed by the
Statute of Limitations because the action
was not commenced within six years, the
answer reveals how the money was lost:
80. The defendant further alleges that
the agreement In writing mentioned in the
complaint was without consideration and
was illegal and void; that the same was
given in settlement OF a gambling debit
that in or about the month Of August, 1912,
defendant was engaged in game OF
chance, known by the name of roulette;
that in such game the defendant lost the
sum of fifteen thousand ($15, 000) dollars,
and In settlement OF such loss made and
delivered to the proprietor and manager
of the house at which the said gambling
occurred, the said written agreement men,
toned in said complaint
Wherefore defendant demands judy
ment; that the complaint herein be dis
missed with costs"
That young sportsman, whose father
was long known as the principal patron Of
horse racing in New York, should refuse
to pay a debt on the ground that II was a
gambling transaction seems surprising
and has aroused some lively discussion.
II man "sits In" to win money at a
wicked game OF chance, and loses, why
w...a III