The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-09-05
SIX BALL PLAYERS
DISCHARGED FOR
CROOKEDNESS
Manager Flagherty Rattles the
Can at North Adams.
THREW GAME TO BENNINGTON
Charge That Pool Was Made Up al
Putnam House and That Game
Was PurposeIy Lost.

Six members of the local baseball
team received special delivery letters
containing notice of their release
from Manager Flaherty Friday morn
ing The men who were let go are
Captain Cooper Sebastian, Shaw,
Cook, Bascom and Heenan. Says the
North Adams Herald.
The reason for the wholesale dis
charge as given out by Manager
Flaherty is the conduct of the six
players in connection with the game
with Bennington, Wednesday 1t is
claimed that pool of money was
raised among the half-dozen mem
bers of the team, and this amount
was handed over to a friend outside
OF the nine who placed 1t on Ben
nington.
At first Flaherty turned deaf
ear to the accusation, but finally he
determined to make an investigation
and as a result he is convinced that
he is justified in discharging the
players mentioned above His action
has met with the approval of the
executive committee, members Of the
association and all lovers of clean
baseball at large.
What surprises Manager Flaherty
more than anything else is the small
amount of money for which II is al
legged the players risked their repu-
tations It is said that the pool
amounted to only $40 which was bet
against $5S. The victory over Spring
field Tuesday naturally made the To-
cal nine favorites over the Benning-
ton aggregation, and it is believed
that the players perhaps expected to
triple their money. No difficulty was
found by the person selected to place
the money, in finding bets, several
local sports, who are always ready
to back the local team. falling into
the trap which it is alleged had been
set. Apparently the idea was to get
the money placed at the best odds
available, then go to Bennington,
and. without arousing any suspicion,
lose the game by a close score.
While perhaps the team did not
exert themselves to any great extent
lduring the contest there was no oc-
Icasion for openly throwing the game
las Bennington really played excep
tionaly we'll The fact which aroused
some talk was the presence OF Coop
er in the box again in spite Of the
fact that he had pitched a hard game
the day before. Those who witnessed
the exhibition declare that the loca
captain simply Topped the ball ovel
and made no attempt to pitch as wei
as he is capable Of The defeat nigh
have passed off as an off day for the
! locals had not certain strange actioni
of the players and bits of their con
E yersation which were overhead
q aroused the suspicion of a few loca
, people who were at Bennington.
The matter was reported to Man
ager Flaherty the following morn
) ing and he finally started an investi
cation on his own hook. II is IN
t Iderstood that his suspicious wer
e confirmed by a statement of a pei
5 son who was connected in some wa
r with the deal. Anyway, he secure
5 what he believed to be suitable ev
1 Idence against at least six of tn
: players, who were told to com
s around and get their money.
e II Is understood the case agains
Heenan, the young pitcher from Wol
S cester is not as clear as the Others
) and it is possible that he was nc
d mixed up in the mess.