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AN OWNER IN TROUBLE. James Ready, one of the owners racing their horses at Tampa, Fla , is in trouble. The circumstances of the case are thus narrated in a Tampa newspaper of January 25 : "Norman Degnan, a negro exercise boy em ployed in the stables of the Tampa Bay racetrack, was thrown from James Reedys bay mare Lady Teacher, a heavy headed thoroughbred, while the latter was being exercised yesterday morning. The boy died shortly after being picked up and the owner of the horse is being held in the county jail to await the verdict of the jury of inquest. "The accident, if such it can be called, was witnessed by several of the racetrack attendants and men around the stables. From what could be learned, it appears that the boy, Degnan, who was not more than 12 years of age, was exercising the mare, but did not ride her fast enough to suit Reedy. He told the boy to ride faster. The boy said he was afraid of the mare. This is said to have angered Reedy, and upon the boy dismounting, Reedy took a board and gave him a violent beating. He thon put the boy on the mare and started her on a run. "Lady Teacher has a will of her own, and it was evident that the boy could not hold her. When she had gotten half around the track the boy was seen to fall. Some say the mare threw him, and others say that the boy became frightened, let go his hold and deliberately rolled off. After the boy fell the mare continued to run, and it was some little time before she was caught and quieted. "Several of the stablemen went to the assistance of young Degnan. Ho was unconscious, and before they reached the stable with him he had ceased to breathe. "The news of the boys death, and the story of the beating given him by Reedy soon spread and policeman Sellars began to look for Reedy. He was informed that Reedy had tried to burn up the board with which he had struck Degnan, and that he had then gone over to the city hall to have arrangements made for the burial of the body. The officer secured the stick which had been taken from the fire. He found Reedy at the police station, and placed him under arrest to await the verdict of the coroners jury as to the cause of the boys death."
