The sun., 1917-07-07

were certain elements involved that
made him think such a procedure the
best way out OF a sad prcdicament.
James p. Sinnott OF the Evening Mat
was the next witness He told OF how
Mercer had communicated the interview
to him In substance and Of how he had
written II and sent II to his paper. He
Identified a clipping handed him as his
story. He admitted that he did not see
McGraw that night.
The next day he said he saw Nc.
Graw and asked him about the matter
quoting certain statements that Mercer
had given him. These he says, McGraw
told him were all right, adding
that maybe that would make them. re-
ferring presumably to President TeneI
and the National League, sit up and
take notice. The following day. the
witness said. he again saw McGraw
under the grand stand at Plttsburg dur.
ing the progress of a game. The sub
Ject again was taken up, and in dis
cussing the course of events in case an
investigation OF the charges was In
stituted Sinnott stated that McGraw
said he would stand by his statement
and that I'VE will sink or swim together >
referring to himself. the club and the
newspaper men.
Objected TO Use of "ScurriIous."
Following McGraw's arrival in Bos.
ton after the reputation had been made
Sinnott said McGraw told him he thought
he was protecting all concerned, espe-
cially since he was given to understand
that libel suits might be brought against
the papers unless he did repudiate the
interview.
Sinnott also told OF conversation
with Harry N. Hampstead. president OF
the New York club. bearing on the idea
that McGraw had been coerced into
signing the repudiation, Hampstead
declared that positively no coercion had
been attempted. that Cornelius j. Sui
Ivan. attorney for the club. was present
and suggested to McGraw that he en-
gage counsel, and that in no wise had
force been brought to bear on NeGraw
TO get him to sign the reputation.
''McGraw," said Hampstead, was eager
to sign the reputation Of his own
accord"
McGraw Makes Denial.
Sam Crane Of the Euenin1 Journal
followed Sinnott and stated that Nc
Graw had told him after reaching Bos-
ton that pressure WAS brought to bear
| on McGraw to make him sign the re-
pudiation. Intimation that serious
complications involving possible legal
suits were made by McGraw. the
witness said. Crane also testified
that McGraw told him he had OBJ
jected strongly TO some of the phrase
ology of the repudiation. and one or
two changes had been made. but that
the league meeting refused toseliminate
the word "scurrilous"
Frank Graham OF THE EVENING SUN
told of getting the substance OF the
interview from Mercer. He testified that
later McGraw verified for him the state
ment. Again in Buffalo. he said, Nc
Graw assured him that his interview
was all right In Boston, he said. Nc
Graw explained to him that he had
signed the reputation because he
thought he was doing the best thing
he could for all parties concerned.
| In oross-examination Attorney WAxd
sought TO draw from Mercer an admis-
sion that McGraw really. did not make
any statement and alsO TO show that
| McGraw did not read the interview
when II was submitted to him. Also
on the other witnesses Ward attempted
/ TO emphasize the fact that none oi
the three had talked to McGraw before
| their stories we're written. This line
brought out the fact that under such
circumstances one reporter usually pro.
tected the others, in statements and
| interyiews