The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-02
THAT PHYLE REPORT
MEMPHIS PLAYER MoDIFrES
 HIS CHARGES.
Declares He Had No Positive Infor. nation and May Have Been derstood--Acorsini
 Makes a Statement.

It looks as though the prediction made by The Advertiser yesterday morning in regard to Phyle getting into hot water | Is coming true quicker than was thought. Phyle now retracts so far as to say that he was told that the Atlanta players received money. -. The following from yesterdays Mem | phis News will be read with great in- | terest all over the Southern League cir- cult:
 When the Memphis public awoke to I see charges that three ball players on the Atlanta team were bribed to throw the last two games of the season its astonish- | ment was remarkable. Being credited to the captain of the team. William Phyle. | the statement seemed to seriously reflect upon the local club and the Atlantians. Further weight was given it by what seemed a corroboration by Victor Accor- | sini
 But before the Memphians could be- gin talking over the subject Victor Ac- corsfni began hunting up newspaper re- porters and friends about the city to make denial of the statements credited to him. He went further and declared he was not | interviewed on the subject; and still further by asserting he knew nothing of remarks he issued written statement l which is given below. Thus the sensa- tion lost some of its glamour. Later when questioned closely on the subject, Captain Phyle said he really did not know positively that bribes were paid any one and that he must have been misunderstood the night before He did say that he understood several Atlantians did receive financial remuneration for throwing the games; but he could not say so from personal knowledge. Thus the big sensation burst like an inflated bal loon when punctured.
 Local directors assert 1t is soreness on | the part of Phyle because he was pun ished for drunkenness. Phyle declares his motive was based on feelings injured through mistreatment by Manager Frank and the local association. But with this he acknowledges his bribery statements were based on inherent feelings, impulses | not on information received at first hand.
 yesterday. He was asked if he knew. l from personal knowledge that Wilson. Ely and Winters were given s25 each. His reply was: . .,o. ,., .u. paid $25 to throw the games and think l my statement must have been misunder- stood. I was given to understand that some Atlanta players received money. but who paid 1t or in what amount l know | nothing. I remember hearing some At fantan say he received $25. but who he | was I do not know, I could not swear he or any other player did receive coin
 ."When questioned still further Phyle gave this as the basis of his assertion that Wilson received money:
 On Saturday night after Wilson had Hotel to introduce some friends to Att lanta players. When walked in the ho- tel I saw Frank on the outside. On the inside at the register desk I saw Wilson and Matthews counting some money. passed on into the bar and then came out. After a while Frank, Wilson and several other players with Memphis citi- know know where wilson I and Matthews got got saw them counting it.
 "The signed statement given by Victor Accornisi as to his alleged corroboration of the bribery charges follows:
 |" Homer George, Sporting Editor Mem
 phis Morning News:
 by statement published in another pa per this morning purporting to be from me In which am supposed to corroborate certain statements. This statement I wish to denX absolutely:
 At no time was I approached for an interview on the subject and the use of quotations about my supposed interview was unauthorized. It was unknown to mo for have made no statement as to the trouble, being ignorant of 1t from begin ming to end. I have been playing here for three years and have never known of any attempted bribery on the part of Manager Frank.
 But what I wish to impress most is that the statement credited to me yes-
 
 not interviewed by any one on the sub ject. Thanking you in advance. I am:
 Victor J. Accorsini.'
 Tn the course of his conversation yes- terday Phyle made the statement that an interview by Frank in which the Mem phis manager told of troubles with play CTS and continued double crossing by va rious factions was the cause of the state ment by nim and the trouble stirred up by yesterdays publication.
 Tn going Uaek over the season 1t Is re- Had uINr flxr fknp- thn aatno ttnKa nA Phyle as. captain of the team two fac- tions grew up in the club-one headed by Phyle and the other by Werden. It is believed that this was due to a feeling of p!que because Phye was paid larger salary than the first baseman. This feel ing began to be manifested by rather slOggy playing on the part of Werden, especially when called upon to assist Phyle in plays. When this began to be- come evident Phyle retaliated, in a meas urc. Then the team began to lose. stra!ghtcn out this trouble and for a few days i; looked as if the effort had been successful. But 1t broke out again. Other players became affected with the fever one of which, Al Miller, acknowledges the fact When the team returned from It's disastrous trip over the Eastern circuit the last time the men were rounded into shape in some kind of manner and played good ball until near Labor Day.
 At the time of the days or after Labor Day several members of the team, in
 
 booze All returned to work the next Gay l but Phyle. He was out of the game for six days. When the season was at an end Phyle sent for his check. According to his counting 1t should have been about $23O which is salary for twenty days at the rate of $3oO per month. the amount his contract called for. He was sent a check for SIS; This he returned and ask ed about the balance. Frank told him he had been fined ten days pay for his drunk and his failing to show up for six days. This announcement filled Phyle | with anger.
 Figured with friend Phyle worked was about $50 with the difference being tune docked for his six days absence | According to his contract he could be fined S25 for his first break of rules or his first drunk; for the second offense he could be fined $50 and for the third of fense he could be suspended without pay. But he alleges he was not told of any | fine being imposed until the season was at an end Thus he defended his feeling | sore.
 From St Louis comes a talk with Finn on the subject as follows;
 Finn Denies Statements. I al