The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-18
SPORTING NEWS.
Taylor Confessed to His Actions
Before the Game.
Had Too Hard a Struggle With
a Liquor Session.
NIGHT AND FORENOON.
Advised the Gamblers Not to Bet
on His Side.
NIGHT AND FORENOON.
No Testimony That He Had Ar
ranged to Play Bad Ball.

New York, Feb. 1S.-Jack Taylor.
pitcher for the St. Louis National
league baseball club, was acquitted OF
the charge of dishonesty.
On the charge of nisbehavior Taylor
was found guilty and punishment was
melted out to him for that offense by
the board of directors of the National
league in the shape of a $500 fine. Tay-
Tor can not play ball until this fine is
paid. The three members of the board
of directors, Hermann. Soden and Pull
| liam, who tried the case were unani-
nous in their verdict. and their action
was approved by the National league
delegates, who went into session for
their spring meeting afterward.
Taylor confessed that while intoxica-
ted on the morning of July 80, he told
men standing around the bar where he
was drinking that they had better not
bet on him that afternoon, as he knew
he was in no condition to pitch. This
did not imply, however. that he would
not try to win. but simply that he re-
allied his condition and felt that he
was physically unable to do himself
justice.
There is testimony here" said a
member of the board, while Taylor was
on the stand. ito the effect that it was
gossipped in certain circles around
Pittsburg that you made $500 or $500 on
the game Did you receive that sum
for losing2'
mo, sir, replied Taylor, angrily
did you profit to any extent what
ever by thel Pittsburg victory?"
mo, sir" replied Taylor more an Ll.; i.
rily. And nothing could be brought
forward to show that he had.
Taylor's story was perfectly straight
throughout. His testimony showed him
to be a careless, happy go-lucky,
thoughtless boy. rather than THIEF or
a dishonest man.
He admitted that he and Jake Beck
ley were drunk the night before the
game and had not sobered up by noon
~ Il I'D n
start in to play at o'clock He admit
ted their visit to the Can club and that
he had played poker there. He con-
fessed to the looseness of his actions
for two days before the game, but not
a word Of testimony showed that he
had planned to pitch losing ball. His
good-natured ADVICE to certain gam
blers not to bet on him that day could
not be taken as a proof of dishonesty,
as there was no sign that he intended
to lose or that he would profit by do
ing So These remarks. however, were
the cause of all the trouble. They were
twisted and warped until they seemed
to be discriminating, but the board s1ft-
ing the facts, found no evidence or IN
territorial dishonesty. .'
AS for his effort to win the game IN
question, Mike Grady, who caught him
that afternoon. said: Il never knew
Taylor to work harder than he did that
day. He was just as anxious to win
as he ever was, and he is a very hard
loser. No one was in a better position
than | to know how he pitched, as 1
caught him throughout the game. me
score was only to against US, and
two of P1ttsburg's runs were scored on
a fluke play back of third, while one
was due to a passed ball by myself.
That don't look as if Taylor tried to
lose.''
on the other count, Taylor freely and
frankly admitted his guilt. He did not
mince language in doing so, either. Il
was drunk the night before the game
good and drunk, too was part OF MS
sworn testimony before the board. This
admission will cost him $500.
Il think Taylor was lucky to get OF
as easily as he did, said President
Frank Robson, his employer while
there was not bit of evidence to prove
deliberate dishonesty on his part, his
own admission about his conduct before
the game and his condition at the time
of the game were very damaging to his
reputation as an earnest player. Tay-
lor would have had no, kick coming II
he had been suspended for year He
will continue to be a member of the St
Louis club but he will have to take
excellent care of himself all through
the season to avoid further trouble
am very glad that he succeeded in es-
tabIishing his honesty 1 have insisted
all along that this case should be prob
ed to the bottom, as it has been. Now
he must pay his fine and behave better