The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-11-15
HELD FOR MURDER IE|
FOOtbaIIPIayer ChargedWith
Killing OppOSiDgCaptain.
STRUCK HIM FROM BEHIND
Player of Bethany College Alleged
to Have Brutality Attacked Cap
tain of West Virginia Uni
Versity Team.
STRUCK HIM FROM BENIN

Wheeling, w. Va. Nov. 1i.-Charg
ing him with the wilful murder of Ru
dolph Munk. left halfback and captain
OF the West Virginia university team
Coroner w. W Rogers Issued Il war
nnt for Thomas Mccoy. alias Gard
ner. left end OF the Bethany college
team. Mccoy was arrested.
The warrant was issued because OF
the sworn statement made to Coroner
Rogers by Homer N. Young. OF PITTS
burg. Pa, a former Michigan university
player. who was the official referee Of
the game. His statement Is:
sIugged Player From Behind.
Rudolph Muuk was running down
the field In advance of the man with
the ball. West Virginia having the bau
about thirty yards from the Bethany
goal. lie was not close to the ball.
On this play he was met by a man
said to be Gardner. as his name was
given to me by Townsend. the coach
for the Bethany team. On this particu'
lar play Ihis man Gardner ran to
wards Munk while both were running
down the field. About the time they
got ten yards beyond the scrimmage
line, Gardner from behind Munk to the
best OF my recollection. struck Munk
on the back OF Munk's head with his
(Gardner's) fist Munk fell uncOncon'
scious and Gardner kind Of fell over
him. Gardner got on his feet, for an
instant gazed at Munk and started to
walk OF the field. For this foul play
put him out Of the game. He made
no reply and no protest under the cir
cumstances. Munk was unconscious
evidently To me. The blow which fell
ed Munk was intentional"
The evidence Of Referee Young Is
part OF the Inquest that Is being held
by Coroner Rogers. Mccoy and other
mombers OF the Bethany team VIII be
examined by Assistant Prosecuting At
torney Fred l.. Maury.
Mccoy IL the real name OF the player
credited with striking Munk. but In
this game he was playing under the
name OF Gardner. After he had been
ordered from the field he passed the
bleachers where several hundred West
Virginia rootcrs were standing. Cries
OF Dirty player" and Tough came
from the crowd. and in reply Mccoy
said: We'll. he was smuggling me all
through the game"
Didn't Regain Consciousness.
DIR. Stats rushed TO the side OF the
PLAYER and hurriedly placing him in
an auto rushed him TO the City hos
pital. Half a score Of physicians work
ed over him. but all to no avail He
died without having regained con-
seriousness.
Captain Henley. OF Bethany. when
asked conct rning the play. said: 1t
is the consensus Of opinion among the
Bethany players that Munk hit Nc
Coy and that Mccoy hit him back.
None Of the Bethany players saw the
play, nor do | think the officials did. as
all were watching the man with the
ball"
Coach Townsend. Of Bethany. said:
Smuggling had been going on all
through the game. and just prior to
the accident | had asked the officials
to have il stopped. but they paid no
attention to my remarks. All OF our
players deeply regret the affair. and
we will take up a popular subscription
to purchase a floral offering in a meas
ure to show the boys parents our feel
ing in the matter"
An autopsy held over the body OF
Munk revealed the cause OF his death.
It was a blood clot on the brain. due
TO the blow on the head.