A COURSING INQUIRY.

Evening Star, Issue 8615, 8 September 1891, Page 1

A COURSING INQUIRY.

A special meeting of the National Coursing Club was held in Philp’s Hotel last evening to consider a communication from the Plumpton Committee of the Dunedin Jockey Club covering a comploinfc lodged, by Mr 0. R. Wise, of Camara, that the bitch Kathleen Mavonrneen, which competed in the Second Sapling Stakes, was not of a proper age nor of the breeding described (A.M.A. out of Fly), but was in fact Lady Lynton (by Smoker out of Lady Lynn). Mr H. Gourley (president) occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance of members. The Chaibman explained that the Plumpton Committee took Mr Wise’s evidence in writing, but they thought it hardly came within their province to decide the case, and they therefore referred it to the National Coursing Club with the view of having Mr Wise’s statement proved or otherwise. If the statement were correct, it was necessary that punishment should follow, while if It were incorrect it was just

as necessary that the other side should l>e cleared of the imputation. The Secretary (&IrG. W. Williams) read a letter fiom the secretary of the Plumptou Committee, enclosing statements by Mr Wi-e and .Mr J. S. Capstick, and recommending thatMr Forward should be required to produce Kathleen Mavuurneen and Lady Lyntcn on the 12:h insfc., end he informed that i: he were not present the case would be decided in bis absence.

The following other documents were a'so read to the meeting : —A letter, dated the iMrd August, from Mr 0 R. Wise, complaining that the dog Kathleen Mavonrnttii, mi. if d in the Second Sapling Stakes by Mr J. S C.ipiti. k, was rot of the proper age or the breeding described, and stating that he was in a position to prova that the greyhound running as Kathleen Mavourntcn •van. ever two years of age, and had run at Dunedin, ChrV.ehurch, and Oatnaru; a latter, dated the Ist September, from Mr James Forward, Christchurch, stating that Kathleen ilavourueeu was a proper sapling ; aud an undated letter from Mr James Nelson, General Poet Office, Christchurch, stating that he was breeder of the slut Kathleen Mavourneen, that she was whelped on the 7th August, 1899, and washy A.M.A. cut of F.y. The evidence given by Mr Wise before the Plumpton Committee was read as follows ;

—“ Mr Wise stated that he had lost L 7 10a ou the first course, and that he bad LII on the course with Sir James and Kathleen MnvourceeD, who ran an undecided, after which he offered the boy that had Kathleen Mavcurncen one-half cf what his dog would win if he would withdraw Kathleen Mavourn?eu, but the boy had not the power to do so. When at the railway station he got hold of the dog, and both himself and W. Orrdioer recognised it as Lady a sister to Carhioe ; also that J. Dalgleish, the slipper, recognised the dog as the ere that was running as Kathleen Mavoumeen.” Mr Capstick stated that he knew nothing about the dog. When he took out the nomination he intended to run his own dog, but it was not fit, and he then telegraphed to M. Taylor for one, who replied that he had cot acy. Afterwards Taylor sent a sifcond wire stating that he had secured a dog for him, arid fi led the nomination with Kathleen Mavournten, as per wire (the third) from Forward to Taylor. Forward told him that the dog was by A.M.A., and had never run. The Chairman said that that was as far as the Plumpton Commit tie had gone. He did not know that there was anything that could he done that night, further than instruct the secretary to send summonses to the pirties to attend on Saturday night next.

Mr Wiu.tams said ho hid already written to Mr Forward to bring down Kathleen Mavoumeen and Lady Lynton.

The Chairman ; In that ca:-e it will be necessary to send notice to Mr Wise. On the motion of Mr Finlinson, seconded 1 y Mr Swan, it was agreed that the club should take flic case up and investigate it, Mr Capstick explained, with reference to his evidence, a poi tioa cf which, he said, was not quite clear, that Mr Taylor sent him a second telegram to say that a dog was coming, and when Mr Taylor arrived in town a tshgrsm had come before him from Mr Forward (to Mr Taylor) stating the dog’s breeding. He suggested that the club should send for Mr Dalglehh, the slipper, as his evidence would be important. Mr hc’ANLAN suggested that there was a witness named Brown outside who might

give evidence. J. Brown, having het-n called into the room, staled, in answer to questions, that ho v. as nos the trainer of Kathleen Mavourneen, but he had charge of her to take her to the slip;’. She was a lisfie black bite!'.. He would know her ngain. She had no particular marks about her, but he thought fim had a white spot ou her breast, and that she had net any heel daws. He knew nothing about her breeding. He booked Kathleen Wavcurrosa to Mr Taylor, to Christchurch, hi the 2-1 th of August. That was the deg he had iu the slips. He simply got paid for taking her to the slips. He saw Mr Williams (the sccretaiy) the other day and told him that he had booked one dog to Mr Taylor and another to Mr Williams. He thought he could tdi Lady Lynton anywhere. He thought he would ether to, when Mr Williams saw him, that the d-g was not Lady Lynton, but lie hr.d ,-dcored his mind since. Lady Lyntoa wa« a thick hpch.aad thought she resembled Katokcn Mav-urneen. He was told to say that he sent two bitches to M; T.iy’or, but he did not send two. Is was Mr Foi ward who told him. He did not know H.e mm who paid him to take Kathleen Mav.■urnccn to the slip/. He was a tall in .xu '.villi a foil heard, v, i.,;iug a bltck hah

It v.ii- rcM.lved to summon Messrs M. i’nyir.r, J. FVrwT.rd, J. itj.'g’c-ish, O. L. Wire, and -J. llrowu to attend a meeting on tin- 12ili ioet. at 9p m,