GRAY GRABBED

NZ Truth, Issue 351, 16 March 1912, Page 2

GRAY GRABBED

Did He Get a Fair Hearing?

Quite a stir was created last week when it was knbwn that the Danneyirke stewards had outed H. Gray for twelve months for allegedly, pulling Miss Augusta and for foul riding m preventing Ladino from, winning".

Nothing else was discussed m sporting circles for some days after the event, and at the present time the matter is still engaging attention. Gray will certainly appeal, and that being so^ it seems grossly Hinfair to read the twaddle written by some of the scribes on the daily press," which can only be meant to influence the Metropolitan body m Hawke's Bay. However, twaddle of /this sort is not likely to do. much 'Alarm, for' the gentlemen who. will ulVfcimately try the case are not likely, to be iguided by newspapers, but on vfche evidence before them, and on that alone. Now, unless the Danuevirke club took fresh evidence at the evening sitting, it is hot likely that a conviction will be secured, for, on the evidence taken on the .racercourse, nothing but an acquittal^ can> result, and even the chairman, Mr H. G. Lloyd, admitted this, though how he came 1 to allow any other verdict at the evening sitting is beyond comprehension.

fl?lie inquiry was conducted m the

usual slipshod manner of country clubs, and, on this account alone, is sure to be upset^by the Metropolitan body. Nothing 1 .would ha-ye been heard of the case at all, had not a paid. official of the club, and not a stipendiary mind you, run around the birdcage and asked several, .'people if they were m that last •'swindle." One of the. stewards, who, a few months ago, had trouble ! with Gray on the Trenthani course, j it is stated, was also instrumental Nn j bringing on the- inquiry. As a fair- j minded man, the said official should j not' have sat on the inquiry, j knowing, as he did, that there j j was bad - blood between him and j Gray over the : , Trenthani business. i L This matter was the subject of so much comment ■on the course that several people ■ approached. the : stew- ! ard referred to . and- pointed out to f him how grossly unfair, it would be! for him to take his seat on. the m- j quiry. , Others suggested to .Gray I that he should appeal to the chairman before the inquiry opened to ask the steward if 'he hon?stly j thought he could conscientiously sit j on the case and bring m an tin- ■ biassed report. However, Gray de- | cidod to -wave this phase oi the case, but may bring it up m another ! place. , ' ! Another matter likely -to .be veriti- • latcd later is the assertion that pna ' of the stewards, was financially |in- ! terested m the case, having had £'< \ invested on Gray's mount. If this ; is so, surely no one'Avill argue for a [ moment that that steward had any I right to sit- m judgment on Gray, if it is so, it is simply, monstrous that ■•■■ such a state Of : ai: airs ,-should ex-; ist. But to the inquiry. Gray was ■ the first to be examined, and, after! giving his evidence, he was passed ■ out to make room for others. This' will show how the inquiry was con- | ducted. Here,, we have an accused ' person not allowed to hear: the cvi- r dence . against him' or to cross-ex- 1 amine the witnesses, though he himself had lawyers up against him. On ; this score alone, the verdict is likely ■ to be upset by the Metropolitan club ; upon objection ;by Gray. But sup-; pose, for the sake of argument, that j this is not so, and the evidence is .; gone into. Well, from what "Spear- ■ mint" can learn, there were four! witnesses examined, and three of I them were entirely m Gray's 'favor.. The. trio were : Gray, (3. Brown (rider of Ladino), and -W. Kirk (trainer of Miss Augusta).' The only j evidence against Gray was given by ! Mr L. C. Rathbone, a steward, and, j with all due deference to the gentleman referred to, "Spearmint" thinks ; it will be a very hard case if his \ word is going to be taken against that of three others. ' ' >'• ■ Here dt ■is incumbent: to enter a -most. emphatic prdtest agaihst the attitude adopted by a 'section of the daily press, who have consistently pointed out what a harmful effect tha decision of the Conference m the cases of Julian and Barlow has had upon racing as a whole, and, mci- j dentally, it has suggested that foul J riding has' prospered because of this, j It is a pity that such 'small-minded. J bigots should be allowed to. use . a j ■ pencil at all. Are innocent boys to suffer- for the good of -,- racing? "Spearmint" says No, and will always take off his hat to the members of the Racing Conference. ■-.