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"SPONGE" CASE AT SARATOGA Four-Year-Old Panetian Victim of Cruel Tampering by Parties Who Broke Stable Lock. SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y., Aug. 22. Panetian, four-year-old gelding owned by C. Leroy King, is the latest victim of the "spongers" that have been active of late in this locality. Trainer Irvine, when he arrived at his stable early this morning, was apprised by one of his help that the lock on the door leading to Panetians stall had been pried off and that the horse had been tampered with. Dr. C. E. Richards, track veterinary, was called and after some difficulty located an obstruction in the horses right nostril. The object was pushed up high . and it was necessary to force it through into his throat and mouth before it could be taken out. The "sponge" apparently had been forced up with a hard object and in so doing the lining of the nostril was severely torn, causing the horse to bleed. Blood stained finger prints were found along the ledge of the stall and these were turned over to the Pinkerton Agency, who will be called in on the case. No arrests have been made, but several men with shady reputations, who have been seen here recently, are being sought.
