The New York herald., 1876-07-23
CAUGHT AT LAST.
ATTEMPTING TO BEIBE BASE BALL PLAYu
AND WHAT cAa.E OF IT.

ATTEMPTING TO BRIDE BASE BALL pLAYK1
AND WHAT CAME OF IT.
1t has long been charged that many of tho pro!es
sioual bsse ball players o. the present day have Ike
Ccssus au itching palm. Upon the right snd upon
the left IL has been asserted that games frequently
"hxed,' to bc lost before the players put
in appearance upon The field; that a certain clique
OF gamblers carried the festive bali 10 hei
trousers pockets and therefore always knew jus
how wager their money in the pool room Il
win. II held that players paid so mucl
tor each camc they would agree 70 win ol
lose, and that besides this OF they had
a still greater through the medism of friend
whom they could send into the pool room with nstruc
tops how TO bet TO be sure OF winning
This belief gained ground rapidly with tho public aud
wonder, for apparently but little effort made By
the managers Of the varous clubs investigate the
charges. each seeming 10 be afraid 10 probe the ugly
les, it should provo to be rank than It
was generally supposed 10 be.
The incxplicabe conduct of some players mt certain
times gave deal Of color the reports circulated ana
the matter dri.icd from bad worse until
1t has at last become painful TACT that at least two.
thirds OF the interest felt in base ball six
years ago has completely Disappeared so that We
rarely than 900 ]. 2G0 spectators of a
game that formerly would have attracted from 1000
1000. Many charges Indirectly, to be sure have been
made agains. the Mutual Club in late years. but, In
justice TO Mr. Cammeycr the club manager IT must be
said that he has shown earnest disposition to
root out the evil, such really exists. Hc has
even offered reward any who would
place in his hands evidence Of improper conduct
in regard to the winning losing OF
any game by any member OF The Mutual nine, but thur
far no man has been able to bring atom
proof against any of the mon. That gamblers
others have frequently made overtures to the player
aad BY holding tempting rolls ofgrccnbacks endcav
oring to scduce them the path OF rectude tn,
va ous club managers have long elt assured but just
who these parties arc II was diiIlt 10 ascertain AZ
last, however, ono OF them has been brought bay
shortly after the Mutual Club arrived In Chicago
their late tour Mr. Robert Matthews. the pitcher TO-
tho nine, received the following communication =
CHICAGO. June ~, 1876
say any thing to him me know ho requested
mo toilet you know it. Yours. &c,
Receiver Western Union Main oncc.
corner Washington and La Sale streetA
Knowing that the Fred ,Scibert mentioned in tho
above note was the who soils pools base ball
games IN New York, and surmising the end he wished
to attain, Matthews went directly to Mr.. Cammeyei
and placed the document in his hands with the remark
that he believed Sebert endeavo brbo him.
leave the matter entirely his hands which he did
The club the eve OF starting tor 81 LOUIS, 50
Mr. Cammcyer who was determined 10 get at the bot
tom oil the affair ascertain whether not Scbcrt
really meant to attempt TO bribe Matthews, at once
sent the following message:
No. 81 DsARnoRNn STREET. CHICAGO, Juno %, ls78
Mr,s me at g w,..g,gn @ Aven1s Hs.s = SpI; ,ur
On the receipt of this telegram Scibert elegraphed
to his friend Louderbcck to 30 nnd see Matthews In
person Louderbeck called several times nt tho botc
whore the Mutual Club was stopping, but not finding
Matthews, LETT note requesting interview
Cammeyer told Matthews to see Louderbeck ant
while maintaining discreet reserve, endeavor TO gc
him to tell just vha Sebert wanted the result of The
interview was not wholly satisfactory. Loudcrbeck
Ia unAfa alltv N
way, convinced Matthews that his rst suspicious were
well grounded. but at the same time left him without
any actual proof to Scibcrts des:sn. Accordingly
he reported to Mr. Cammcycr, who thercupon tn,
following message to selbert:-
To 7. H. srrnEnr new York =
Write fully What you want me to do. and what you win
do. Don't send any one to me- as am afraid OF "0i|%
This had the desired effect for seibcrt at once 70
piled as foows:-
Exw YonK. juno "a. 1875
H. MaTTmhwsj; Attn, rs;,, NJ; 81 b s,; b u, Chicago A
as ia s roan VIII writ. s' 70
quesled.
In compliance with this promise Scibcrs two dayi
later wrote the following letter to Matthew'S and Mr.
Cammcycr having thus obtained documentary evidence
OF the tact he had long bcen cndenvoring 70 sub
stantiate, that parties were epdcavoring TO tsnpci
with his let the matter drop until he returned
New York, when he gave the papers to tho HERALD
porter Tor pubIication:-
Nxw York. June 2s. 1875
FIRST one surprised me because did not andors,ands avn
wns e a. aS you r' % me DC 20 no Dsoys;s
for toins and nave Others nave the bsncat ofA
We have that YOU will give a. straight viii be worth Son
enclose in .ls cipher which Telegraph mo
giving plenty timc.
We want it ~ surety II successful in this yos
business alone. will lind that
will the and that you will be dealt kQuArslJ
with. o. yon wish will play tho Mutu
ais for winner. Don't rake mstaae in the CIPHER, and
he and II TO early We do well tor ant
IL all lays with yourself Hero cipher words -
Muuss Anderson
~. Louis. bcrtrnru
Cincinnati sown
Ii yon want buy ST. Louis JUS, say 'bny Bcrtram;
fyou TO buy 81 Louis to win in innings.
Address all George Howard. New York Tur
Exchange Now York. and sign them Robert Don't forgot
Yours, y. ii. SElBERT
WHAT MR. sErBxRr SAYS
Mr. y. H. Seibcrt, the person referred TO above, val
spoken to by HERALD reporter yesterday afternoon
his pool Hulledge street, brooklyn, the
Un;on ball grounds. where the gamc between the
Mutual and Hartford clubs was then In progress The
reporter exhibited Mr. Seibert the letter printed
above and signed with his name, and asked whether
was Authentic and II what he had to say In respect
to the transaction The pool seller read the letter and
admitted its authenticity without hesitation. lie
had written It, he said. the ipstga,on OF .
third party whom no refused to maine. 'Gc
ahead and. publish It," said he ''it can't
hurt Every body understands that we in this busi
ness get everything oi that kind we can. Mr.. Cam
me told some time ago that he had been trying
had grudge against me Tor long time because re-
fused TO and sell pools amateur Faces to
benefit his grounds. ! can make an affidavit that
never in my life bet $50 upon game of ball II that
letter published Will reply TO II, but have no more
to say now. F"
VERY UGLY If TRUE.