The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-12-03
A WORD OF WARNING.
The Recent Contest p Between
Cole ana Maggioli.

From the Philudcli hiu Sp ri Life.
After carefully reading great deal
that has been published concerning the
alleged match of 5000 points for $500 be-
tween Harry Cole and Frank Maggioli,
played at San Antonio, Texas, on the
evenings OF October q, - and 90, can
dor must compel us to state thar we
have seen nothing in the public prints
to convince us that the game was an
honest one, while we have seen much TO
convince us that If the contest was not
deliberate hippodrome, it will require
more convincing proofs than we have
yet seen TO make us alter our opinion.
For, so far as we can judge from reports
published in the LIGHT, of San Antonio,
where the contest took place, the game
most Enthusiastically bears the stamp of
crOoktdness on its very face.
II Is, on the other hand, notwlthstand-
ing the charges made, difficult to think
that Maggiol should be engaged in con-
test which is surrounded with such
suspicion. This player, If we are not
mistaken, bears an excellent reputation,
not only as an expert, but also as man
ofhonor. We Mt least.have no recollec-
tion of him, before the contest in ques-
tion, as ever having been engaged in
any game where there was the slightest
suspicion. That Maggioli owes 1t to
/ himself, not less than TO his business, to
explain the cause Of the charges made,
no one will question; otherwise we fear
that this unfortunate contest will have
cast such an odor on his professional
/ record as to make him regret being in
any way connected with so lamentable
| an affair.
OF Harry Cole we know but little. If
we are not mistaken he first came
/ prominently before the public as
/ player at Tammany hall, New York, In
| the spring of 1883. His record there
was simply remarkable for what he tried
| TO accomplish as an expert but did not
succeed. His reputation, however, was
clean, and no one censured him for not
being great master of the game, which
was no fault of his, and 1t is doubtful
he would be accused now If there was
not some fire where there has been so
very much smoke.
The public, after all, is not so much at
fault in these matters as the players. II
contest Is honestly gotten up
there is but one way to convince
the public of that fact, and that is
for the players to deposit the money
In the hands of Stockholders whose in
tegrity can not and will not be cues.
toned. The fact that the game was
played in san Antonio, Texas, is nc
reason why Maggioli and Cole should
not have deposited the money with
men who are generally recognized as be.
ing the proper and safe parties to ap.
point as stakeholder. There are at least
fifty professionals in various parts Of the
country who are known personally OF
professionally to both Cole and Maggioll
the selection as stakeholder of any on,
of whom would have convinced the pub
lie that the contest was a bona fde one
Tor the simple reason that the room
keepers, manufacturers or professional
being the parties we refer to-coul,
not and would not permit their name
to be used in connection with any con
test not played on its merits.
There are also very many honorable
sporting journals in the country at tn
present day whose editor would not on
ly have acted as stakeholder for Messrs
Cole and Maggioli, but they would hay
been glad, no doubt, to use their influ
ence In making such contest a success
10 appoint such parties as we have re
ferred TO as Stockholders, however,
would have been necessary to nut IN tn
cold cash before the game took place
Consequently, rs there seems to hay
been no one connected with the afiai
! who cared continental for the publ,
, II should not surprise either Cole @
Maggloli II the public should at no dis
t tant day grow exceedingly suspicious {
contests SO loosely managed.