The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-11
MICHIGAN SORE
And PLAYS BABY
Wolverines Again Demonstrate
the Puerile Spirit in the
Eckersall Case.
Journal Special Service.

~ 81 !. i ! - *.
Ann Arbor. Mich. Jan. l1.-Ihat Walter
Eckersall, captain-elect OF the University of Chi
cago football team, all-Amertcan player and all
western choice by every critic, track star and
baseball player, will never again represent his
school or take further part in any amateur sport
ls believed to be certain as the result of discov-
cries which have been made by the University
OF Michigan football secret service aided
terially, II is believed, by the testimony of one
Of Michigan's star players who was once team
mate Of Eckersall, and is friend Of many
years standing.
Ever since Eckersall chose Chicago instead of
Michigan as his college Michigan men have
secuted the Idea that Interior influences did not
induce him to make the choice. 1t has been
mates on the Hyde Park athletic teams be In
duced to tell what they knew, the Chicago star
could be easily barred from amateur sports. An
efforts, however, to induce Eckie's friends to
betray him in the matter failed until the Chi
cago game in which EckersalIs team won from
Michigan the championship Of the west, which
they had held for the last four years.
Soreness Over Curtis.
This contest, Michigan believes, was decided
adversely on account Of the barring from the
game Of Tackle Curtis, on whom they claim
Eckersall worked a prearranged trick, getting
into Curtis way and falling as II badly hurt
Curtis was ruled out of the game and Michigan
lost her strongest player. An incident which
occurred In this connection is of Importance.
While Eckersall lay on the ground, to all ap-
pearances writing In pain, Tom Hammond,
Michigan's star halfback who had played on
the Hyde Park preparatory school team and had
for years, walked up to him and said: walter,
are you going to stand for this dirty business ?
Get up and be man.
Eckersall made no reply. Then Hammond
turned on his heel, saying: well, you and I
have been friends long time, Walter, but
we're thru now" q.
tsRumors'' at Michigan.
Ever since the game there were rumors at
Michigan that new evidence had been found in
the Eckersall case. Lately these have taken
definite form and before the winter vacation 1t
ring that Michigan had witnesses who had seen
the contract which Eckersall signed at given
salary to play ball with the SpHldngs: that
they had full details of certain ringing tour
which the athlete had taken and had engaged
in a professional race; that they had certain
evidence of another race In which he had com
peted under an assumed name, and that, mos
important OF ALL Michigan knew Of misde
meanor which Eckersall had committed against
the athletic code no longer ago than last sum
mer., Where this knowledge came from is no
definitely announced, but there is more than
suspicion that the information was furnished b.
| Tom Hammond, who had protected Eckersan TO
| three years, but had broken friendship with hin
| in the big game at Chicago, believing tina
Eckersall had forfeited whatever claims friend
ship might give by his connection with tn
Curtis case. -. .gH
| More 'sRumor.''
| The news that Michigan was next is be
lieved to have been communicated to Hckersal
during the Christmas vacation. Chicago ad
vices state that he has not returned to school
and will be out in business until the opening o
| the spring term. f3sf%s
| This attitude is believed to be one that will lie
Eckersall down easy. It is not believed for /.
moment at Michigan that he win ever retur
| to school, -as=-s TX. e q,