Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1906 — Memphis Gold Cup Scandal. [ARTICLE]

Memphis Gold Cup Scandal.

On motion of the Memphis Trotting Association proceedings were begun in the Supreme Court at New York, charging that E. E. Smathers, the wealthy turfman, conspired with his trainer, George Speer, and with Edward Sanders, trainer for C. K. G. Billings, to defeat Lon Dillon in the race of 11)04 for the $5,000 gold cup. The alleged conspiracy consisted in the drugging of the great Billings trotter, Ixui Dillon, thereby causing her to lose the race and enabling the defendant dishonestly to win it with his horse, Major Delmar. The association demands damages in the sum of $3,500 or the return of the cup. Acting on this information, a deputy siteriff at New York entered Mr. Smathers’ apartments and seized the cup in question. Later, however, Smathers regained possession by depositing a bond of $7,000 with the sheriff. Smathers says that Billings is the instigator of the suit und denies the charges made.