Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-13
ATTEMPT 70 BRlBE UMPlRES
Sensational Disclosures Regarding
Final New York Chicago Game.
MAGNATEs WILL INVESTIGATE
signed Statement Made 60 National
League by KLEIN and tombstone
Names of Men ImpIi-
Gated withheld.

NEW YORK, Dec. Eve more sem
%sationsl than the tumultuous close Of the
recent National league playing season were
the closing hours Of the leagues annual
meeting here today. when charges Of at
tempted bribery of the umpires who Of
ficiated at the game that decided the
championship of 1908. between New York
and Chicago at the Polo grounds. october
g. were sprung and the magnates appointed
a committee TO probe them, even intimating
that criminal prosecutions might follow.
So rare are accusations of bribery in
connection with organized base ball and
so well authenticated were the charges
presented today and officially made public
by the league In a statement signed by
representatives of all its clubs that the
news created a profound stir and revived
the heated conditions Of turmoil. which had
accompanied the settlement of the
championship dispute two months ago.
Statement ny the League.
Although It is known that the league has
been considering the subject in executive
session, the matter first came into official
notice when President Pulliam today
formally presented it and a statement was
drawn Tor the public as follows:
When the National league had apparently
transacted all CT Its business at Its meet
lng Thursday, December 10, 1905, and after
The league had received an official call
from the members of the American league,
Mr.. Puutam called attention to a matter
which the undersigned consider not only
81 me utmost importaI oe TO the league,
but TO organized base ball as we'll. He stated
that Messrs. KLEIN and tombstone, the
umpires. who had OBLIGATED at the game
Chicago clubs, al the Polo grounds October
., 1905, had submitted to him certain signed
statements that an effort had been made
pertaining to that contest. In one of these
statements the name of the person who
approaches the umpires was given, as well
TO represent.
In the other statement the names OF
ahe persons who approached the umpire
they We're strangers to him.
We are of the opinion that a most thor
enfire matter nia should be SVe mass iS order ID tn ~
maintain the high tandard and honesty
OF uae game throughout the country and IL
pohslble TO punish all persons connected
with this disreputable proceeding.
Names Are Withheld.
TO make such an investigation as the
Undersigned desire we deem It unwfse tic
have been connectea with the matter as
we have grave doubts as to the truths of
certain alleged by the person
VINO approached one of the umpines and At
Is for that reason, as well as having in
mind the proper punishment of AN guilty
parues, nat all names be withheld for
We desire, however, to state that none
OF the persons whose names are withheld
q. ms time are In any way connected with
We desire also at this time to commend
Wv 4cuons OF the umpires, Messrs. KLEIN
and tombstone, in absolutely refusing to be-
cotne parues to this contemplate act, and
thus by their action again showing to the
american public the honesty and integrity
OF our national game.
And with the thought of always maintain
ing the same throughout the entire country,
TIE National league. has appointed q com
mlttee consisting Of John T. Brush, chair
man; Charles III. Ebbetts, August Hermann
and Harry c. Pulliam TO make a most thor
ough investigation of this matter and with
instructions to report thereon at as early
q period as possible and with authority to
appoint special counsel and to present the
matter TO the district attorney of this
county, IL after such an investigation, it is
advisable.
GEORGE B. DoVEY,
CHARLES II. EBBETTs,
CHARLES w. MURPHY,
AUGUST HERMANN,
JOHN 7. BRUSH,
WILLIAM j. SHETTSLEINE,
BARNEY DREYFUS.
N. S. ROBINSON.
John n. Brush Present.
The charges were presented at a session
at which all the clubs were represented.
SNAA - Diaoht BAtpldclil u blt ANdM 1OIh
club. has not been present at previous SEES
sions, because, ne said, be had been i'll, and
would not have attended today's meeting
except for the extreme Importance Of the
case under discussion.
President Pulliam said the regular busi-
ness of the meeting had been concluded
early yesterday and that since tina time
the various representatives had been trying
- -~k - Al. "a =,
bribery.
1t was made clear that there were few
close decisions In the memorable contest Of
October 8. which gave Chicago the pennant,
at least none that affected the result. The
game was ordered played after the regular
season closed because of the tie for first
place between New York and Chicago, when
the last of the regularly scheduled games
had been played. Contributing to the ex-
citement of the situation with the cham
.pionship hanging on a single game. was the
disputed tie game of September q, which
New York lost because Merkle failed to
touch second base. The echoes of that
memorable contest and the excitement in
the base ball world which followed it had
died away to q great extent, only to be
reawakened by the sensation Of today.
With the conclusion of the National
league meeting 1t was expected hat the
rumors of many deals for players between
the clubs would come TO a head. The only
report which received confirmation, how
ever. was the engagement of Clark Griffith
as manager Of the Cincinnati club. The
former manager of the New York Ameri-
cans, 1t is understood, goes to Cincinnati on
8 one-year contract which he has the op-
to- - o,o-tn. nto ,av, r,ana.a .afd
tonight that he would consider no change
in the makeup of the Reds" until he had
looked over the field.
AWARDS AT THE CORN SHOW