The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-21
Story OF Doped' Horse
Side Show At Big Trial
Carrots Sprinkled With Morphine Powder Fails
to Frame Race - Similar Treatment Suggested
to Speed Up Jurors in McKesson, Robbins Trial

This story might be little bit
tardy but II shouldn't, In the opinion
OF the writer, be passed up.
A "sideshow" really stole the whole
show In the trial OF the $2i 900, 900
McKesson and Robbins case In which
Rowley W, Phillips, prominent local
broker and Horace b. Merwin,
Bridgeport banker were acquitted on
conspiracy charges and using the
mails to defraud and John H. Nc
Gloon, controller OF the colossal drug
firm was found guilty on one charge
OF violating Security Exchange
Corporation law.
Awaits Sentence
Mc0loon will be sentenced tomor.
row by Judge Grover Moscowitz In
the federal court at New York where
the famous case was tried, along
with George and Robert Dietrich
tMusica), Arthur Vernard (Musica)
brothers OF r. Donald Coster Musica,
Leonard and John Jenkins, brothers
OF Coster's widow and Benjamin ST.
mons, former employee OF Coster, all
OF whom pleaded guilty In the case
The "sideshow" was q little case
thrown In to I'll up time while the
jury was celebrating on the Nc
Kesson case.
The case involved the doping OF q
race horse and when II started be-
fore Judge Moscowitz and q Jury
the rush for seats at the press table
IN the courtroom was tremendous
New York papers, which hadn't had
reporters present during the trial OF
the $2l 100000 case had them on
hand TO cover the two dollar across
the-board" case, which proved EVIL
IDENTITY that people are interested
more IN the races and small matters
than they are In cases involving mil.
lions, an avalanche Of audit reports,
inventories, ETC., etc.
The courtroom also was jammed
as the case started, while there were
several seats available In the clos
Ing days Of the McKesson case.
The case started of with q laugh
and there was general laughter In
the courtroom throughout the pre-
sentation OF the evidence on Friday
which was resumed yesterday morn
Ing. Attorneys Irving Kaufman,
and Howard Corcoran, who prose-
cuted the McKesson case for the
government, cropped In for little
relaxation" as did Atty. George z.
Medalie, and Atty. Philip Corbin of
defense counsel.
Excused
The first laugh In the case came
when one Of the prospective Jurors
told Judge Moscowitz that he had q
cold and might not be able to show
up on the next court day. "Well,
what do you Think" asked the jur-
list. II don't know" replied the Juror
as he asked the judge. what do you
thinkP" Judge Moscowitz replied
You're closer to the cold than I am.
You've got to make the decision in
this instance" As the Judge asked
another question he perceived that
the prospective jurors hearing was
apparently not too good.
do you hear well?" asked the
Judge. "Yes, 1t is cold out" replied
the Juror.
Excused" said the court with a
smile.
Then the case started. The defend
ants were Peter Panzer (not related
TO Peter PAM, a singing waiter, Sam
Holman, a trainer, and william
Morrison Of Albany, N. Y. a man 1t
seems, who mad roll.
Panzer, the evidence showed was
a singing waiter. He sang q sweet
song to one Harvey Keppler, one of
the country's leading jockeys, during
the course Of which Keppler became
sentimental end agreed to accept
$500 and feed horse. named "Sun
Plume a carrot containing NOR
phine, which horse he was to ride
in the first race at Belmont on
April I. 1899.
Keppler gave the horse the carrot,
which he said was calculated to slow
down the horse by i've lengths, fig
uring 1t out on his early morning
workout Of that day. and make him
a sure loser. The carrot was fed at
II a. M, the race went at ais. All
handicaping records Of other horses
In the race had been carefully con-
sidcred and Morrison put up $4,000
on another horse In the race. Sun