early cite for "jass" band(1916)

[Douglas G. Wilson]

A puzzle:

_The Times_ (London), 26 Feb 1916: p. 8, col. G: "Sussex County Coursing
Meeting":

<<.... The remaining stakes were divided, equal shares being taken by Mr.
J. R. Smith's Jass Slick, Mr. E. J. Allard's Prince Rufus, Mr. Waugh's Hard
Knock, and Messrs. Green and Morrison's Horstead Kite.>>

This is not an OCR error; the text is clear.

However I speculate that all is not as it seems.

-- Doug Wilson