Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-15
Taylor Put on Trial by Base
Ball Magnates.
EVIDENCE Is ALL IN
DARK PLOTS SAID TO BE LAID
AGAINST AMERICAN LEAGUE.
Many Bowling Matches - Racing at
New Orleans-New Racquet Cham
pion-Base Ball Notes.

Pitcher Jack Taylor of st. Louis has been
IN some pretty tight places on the diamond
but he never had warm session as he
went through yesterday afternoon when he
faced the board of directors of the National
League in New York, and was asked to
explain how he came to lose the game at
Pittsburg on the afternoon of July 80 last
The charges brought against him We're pre-
fcrred by Secretary Locke of the Pittsburg
club, and the first count was that he had
conspircd with divers gamblers and others
to lose the game In question. The second
count was that he had been guilty of con-
duct i'll violation of the constitution of the
National League and prejudicial to the best
interests of the national game
His 1nquisitors were Garry Hermann,
who. although having declared his belief
that the player guilty of the
charges, yet accepted the proxy of Barney
Dreyfuss. who claimed to be ill., and sat in
judgment on the player whom he had al
ready unofficiaIly declared to be dishonest
Arthur Soden and President Pulliam. ex-
officio members of the board, were the 9TH
ers present Jas. A. Hart, who has also
made accusations against the pitcher. de-
cllned to appear, and John L. Brush the
other member of the board, was convenient
Iy absent However. as three constitutes a
quorum, the action of the league is quite
legal, although it may be susceptible to a
charge of popularity.
The Pittsburg club was fortified by the
presence of three lawyers, who unoaded a
bushel of affidavits the case, and gave
the proceedings a very legal aspect. These
nmbs of the law were Edmond Englert
clarence Burleigh and Ralph Tannehill and
they sent chill through the unhappy Tay-
lor. who was expected to go to the meeting
reinforced by a strong legal battery, but
was without counsel. Charley Nichols
manager of the St Louis team, was called
before the board. and is supposed to have
testified in favor of Taylor but the man
ager refused to say anything whatever on
the case or what was his attitude.
Hearing Was Secret.
Frank De Haas Robinson, president of
the club, also appeared as witness and
did what he could to straighten out the tan
gle for the pitcher. The hearing was behind
closed doors and not whisper came forth
until the solemn trfumvirate emerged short
ly before 1o'clock. Then Garry Hermann
announced that all the evidence in the case
was before the board, and that decision
would be rendered just as soon as the
members had time to consider the matter
thoroughly
Mr.. Hermann explained again that this
was merely an investigation but that direct
charges had been filed in order to get at
the inside facts. He reiterated his asser-
ton that no matter what the outcome of
against the pitcher. which is now in the
bands of the national commission, would be
pushed to finish and decision reached.
President Pulliam made the admission
that most of the testimony had come in
the shape of newspaper publica tions in
Pittsburg. and he really could not say what
the result would be.
~ II. Soden of Boston seemed more
81 umpy than usual, and curtly declined to
discuss the matter.
Previous to being called before the board
Taylor paced nervously in the corridors and
assured everybody that he was absolutely
gultless of wrongdoing except that he had
drank to excess the night before the game
and had been unable to do himself justice
on the slab.
Taking ali the circumstances into con-
sidcration. the belief became quite general
that Taylor was doomed to expulsion. which
was the National Leagues logical method
of clearing its own skirts, and at the same
time placing the American League in a po-
sit-on where it would be compelled to do
some hustling TO explain its warm advocacy
of the pitchers side of the case The ma
tional commission could then consider the
Hart charges and would have difficulty
In convicting the player on that count also.
Pitcher May Be Censured