The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-29
HEYDLER DEFENDS
PRIVATE HEARING
Declares Baseball Will Benefit
by Trying Hal Chase Behind
Closed Doors.
BY FREDERICK G. LIED.

John Heydler. president of the Ma
tonal League. yesterday gave his rea-
.ons for holding the Chase hearing in
private tomorrow morning instead of
Yielding to the practically unanimous
demand for public trial for the great
first baseman. Heydler says that while
no recognizes the widespread feeling
that the hearing should be held in the
OPEN still he believes II Is for the best
interests Of the sport that the case
should be tried behind closed doors.
Heydler declares. although the case
will be heard tomorrow, II will be i'm
POSSIBLE for him to render an immediate
decision. A week may elapse before he
renders his finding.
IF the press was admitted to the
hearing II might only lead to a lot OF
confusion" said Heydler. at Is a GER
tainty that practically every reporter
there would try to Judge the case in his
own mind and various men may take
different Views from the evidence pre-
sented. The result would be that patrons
OF baseball would have the case de-
c.ded in their own mind simply from
what they read. Then II rendered a
decision contrary to their viewpoint It
would only start fresh wrangles and
prove injurious to baseball.
Is Following Precedent.
y prefer to hear the evidence as II is
presented, and to go over II quietly in
my own mind before rendering a deci-
sion It will be far easier for me- to do
this under a private hearing than IL
the case Is made public and Is threshed
out In the papers. while l am trying to
reach a Just verdict"
Heydler also said ne Is following
precedent inasmuch as Jack Taylor. the
old St Louis National pitcher. was given
A private trial in 1908 when he was
accused OF dishonest practices. Taylor
then wac tried before the board OF di-
rectors Of the league and acquitted.
In the case of the four Louisville play
er OF 1877 Craver. Hall. Nichols and
psvlin. the National League had the men
in such a tight hole that they pleaded for
mercy, William Hubert, then president
OF the league. obtained the original tele-
grams that had passed between the Of
Tending players and poolroom men. the
evidence against these men was so over
whelnring that at a meeting OF the Ma
t!onal League In the old Fifth Avenue
Hotel the players were permanently
barred from baseball.
Chase Seeks Public Trial.
Chase himself is strongly in favor OF
q public trial. as he wants TO show the
weakness Of the case against him. He
even promises to tell all that will happen
at to-morrow's hearing whether or not
It Is announced by the league.
Despite the fact that Heydler's-defence
Of q private hearing has some points
that are commendable, on the whole the
public feels that It would be far better
for the good OF the game II all the cards
continually are on the table.
While men close TO Heydler know
there Ia no more honest and square man
In baseball than the new National
League president and that Chase Is GER
tain Of absolute Justice, to the average
baseball fan Heydler Is man elected to
ONCE and drawing sairy from eight club
owners.
The case Is that OF club owner
AGAINST a player. For that reason full
puolicity would give the public more
confidence in the trial than II 1t Is held
behind club doors.