The Rugby-Silverwood Case.

Otago Witness, Issue 2201, 7 May 1896, Page 35

The Rugby-Silverwood Case.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib,— During the p st few months numerous references to tha alleged llugby-Silverwood disqualification cases have appeared in your columns and in those of other journal;, and as thejjeci ion of the Lake County Jockey Club and the current tumours were so manifestly based upon inaccurate data, I must crave a short space in ord«r to put the facts of the cas? succinctly before the jiublic. My own conuectiou with the cas>e I have no desire to palliate or deny, but in justice to an innocent man I cannot remain silent whilst such flagrantly unjust aspersions are being levelled against him The facts of the c«se are briefly a» follows :— ln December last I heard thtt the hoise SHverwood was in tha market, andknowing bis capabilities &s a trotter I Bent an ageut to Canterbury to see whether he could purchase the b.on.e for me. My representative met Mr M'Lennan at Dunsandel, and a bargain was made, the horse ultimately becoming my property, the amount of the purchase money being £30. At this time M'Lennan waß not aware with •whom he wa's negotiating. The purchase was completed on December 11, and the receipt for^he money is tow in u>y possession, and can be produced if required. From tho above it , will be clear that at the time the race was run M Lennan oweed no interest in the horae, haviog parted •with him but a month previously, nor was ho cognisant of the faot that the horsß was likely to take part in any race. 'Immediately after the race aX Queenstown, on account of financial difficulties, I seufc the horse to Canterbury and asked M'Lennan to claim him. M'Lennan acceded to my request, and gave several peop'e to understand tnat the horse was hip, but at this t'me he was not aware that Silverwood, under an assumed n*me, had taken p >rt in auy race. lam quite prepared to make an affidavit in corrobora* tian of all the statements contained in thu latter, and wader the circumstances I think the public will recognise that in placing. M'J.ennan under the ban of discmaltficatlon the Like County Jockey Club has, I have no doubt unintentionally, done mm a serious injustice. As far as I»m personally concerned I frankly acknowledge that the Club has nat treated me unfairly, but 1 hopa they will yet- sec their, way to reduce the term.— l SUB, <faC.» Ashburton, April 1896. X Butler.