The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-20
.UMP|RES UPHELD
 IN BRIBERY CASE National Commission Reports
 on the Famous Case BAN PUT ON THE BRIBER
Commission Does Not Make Public the Name of the Offender, But His Name Is Made Known to All
 Major League Owners.

Cincinnati, April Exchanges that an attempt was made to bribe two um- plres of the National league in the inn portant New York Chicago game at the Polo grounds last fall, when the Ma tional league pennant was in the bal ance, wh ich came out shortly after the close of the last baseball season, were sustained by the national baseball com mission in an official report made pub lie today.
 The commission has been investigat- ing for several months past the charge that an attempt had been made to bribe both umpires, Johnstone and Klem, who officiated at the game. and at meetings here and in New York and Chicago evidence was taken in connec- ton with the alleged attempt at bribery The commission, as a result of it's in vestisation finds that while the at tempt was made, the offer was spurned by the umpires and they are pro- nounced deserving of the highest com mendation, not only on the part of the national commission, but of all those who are interested in organized base ball as well.
 No prosecution is to be instituted against the person named as having of fered the bribe, but instead the com mission announces that in order that he may not go unpunish ed the name of the offender is to be furnished to every major league club owner, with instruc- fonc fhaR Ie !. grounds for all time to come
 The strictest secrecy was maintained by members of the commission with re- gard to the identity of the party who Is held to have been guilty of the at tempt to corrupt the two umpires and leading baseball men professed not to know upon whom the conviction rests.
 The official statement by the com mission is as follows:
 This matter was referred to the com mission by the National league and pertains to certain statements made by Umpirts Klem and Johnstone that an attempt was made last fall to bribe them with reference to a game that they umpired and which took place be- tween the Chicago and New York Ma tional league clubs, on the Polo grounds.
 We have made a full and thorough investigation of all of the matters that have been presented for our oonsidera- ton with reference to this subject We believe that the statements as made by the umpires are true and that an effort was made to bribe them with refer ence to their duties. The same, how ever, was unsuccessful and the um- piers are deserving of the highest com mendation, not only on the part of tn 6 national commission, but all of those who are interested in organized base ball as well.
 Tn this matter the commission would not hesitate moment to institute a most rigid. prosecution against the of fender if they had the power to do so and the corroborative testimony to sus- tain the charges as made by the um- pires. We feel however, that in the absence of this, the party charged with this offense by the umpires should not go unpunishe ed, and for that reason we will furnish to every major league club owner the name of the person who at temtped this offense with instructions to such club owners to bar him from their respective grounds for all time to come"