New-York tribune., 1919-02-06

interested parties at the hearing las
Chase was charged by his manager,
captain Christy Mathewson. now with
the United States army in France. with
having displayed a spirit detrimental
10 the good of baseball in certain con-
tests of the National League schedule
of 1918. Evidence. which proved on
,rid Investigation to have been more
or less hearsay, associated Chase with
having attempted to influence certain
nlayers of rival clubs to use their good
athletic offices to arrange results other
than should have developed on strict
merit.
having thrown" or having at
tsmpted H to throw" National League
Games in which the Cincinnati
Baseball Club was interested. Sup
posedly he approached certain mem
hers of the Giants and of his own club
10 effect sue. result tie Ii GREECE re-
ing that he was interested in crossing
the Reds because of having wagered on
opposing teams.
The evidence against Chase was
principally submitted in affidavit FORM
The star witness, of course, was his
manager of last season-Christy
Mathewson-who could not be on hand.
He had gone to France as a captain
IN the Chemical Warfare Service short
" afte. he presented his charges to
the league executive. Another wit
ness was pitched Poll Perritt, of the
Giants, who submitted an affidavit, but
who was unable to be present person
ally for the hearing because OF press
of business. Manager John j. McGraw,
of the Giants; outfielder Greasy"
Neale and pitchers Jimmy Ring and
Mike Regain, of the Reds, and one or
two other players who had made af
fidavits in the case responded to the
request Of the National League to ap-
pear at the hearing and give duly
sworn testimony. In spite of which
Hal Chase has been eXonerated, so that
only one conclusion may be drawn
the charges in the first place were of
the most fiimsy character.
Heydler's Decision
Here is the official finding Of John
A. Heydler, the National League Presi-
dent. in full:
"This matter comes before me as
president of the National League on
the complaint of the Cincinnati club
against Hal Chase, a player under
contract with the club for the sea-
son of 1918. When the charges were
filed | was acting president of the
National League and objection was
made to the hearing OF the evidence
until the formal election of a presi-
dent. This, with an adjournment
granted at the request the play
er's attorneys, postponed the hearing
to January 80. 1919. on which date
all testimony offered was heard. The
player appeared in person and by his
attorneys. Further investigation
and inquiry and examination of the
Official records have since been made
that every available fact bearing on
the matter might be established.
"ln substance the player was
charged with making wagers against
his club on games in which he par
tcipated. In justice to Chase l feel
bound to state that both the evil
dence and the record Of the games
to which reference was made fully
refute this accusation. In one game
in which if was minated that Chase
bet against his club the records show
that in the sixth inning, with two
men on bases and the score to
nothing against his team, Chase hit
home run, putting Cincinnati one
run ahead.
Game More Than Player.
"All available evidence has been
carefully taken and considered. If
the charge we're proved it would
follow as matter of course that the
player would forever be disqualified
ircm participating in National
League games. Under such circum-
stances | would not hesitate so to
decide. as the interests Of the public
and Of the game Of baseball are far
more important than the fate an
Individual. These interests it is my
clear duty to protect no matter what
the effect may be on players or
clubs"
ANY player who during my term as
President of the National League is shown
70 have any interest in a wager on any
game played in the league. whether he
bets on his club or against it, or whether
Re takes part in the game or net, will be
promptly expelled from the National
League. Betting by players will not be
tolerated
Sly conclusion and finding. after full
esnsidsration Of the evidence. are that
70 nowhere established that the accused
'as interested In any pool wager that
esased any game of ball to result other
wise than its merits, and that player
hai H. Chase is not guilty Of the charges
brought against him"
While for diplomatic reasons he did
NO. care to divulge in detail the nature
=. " the evidence developed against
ooase, President Heydler frankly ad-
M'sted that the Cincinnati club had
sooc grounds for calling for an investi-
salion. The affidavit Of Mathewson, like
hIas' OF the personal testimony, was
ts1s sa'sa largely on hearsay. Somebody
~.o somebody else that Chase told
neoooy 'onetulng. etc ii ,theH-
% ns aiiidavit Was given quite as
s'gaty consideration as IL Big Six
S'aseh had been present.
Chase Excellent Witness
mr; Heydler said that Chase made an
sient witness for himself and stood
s,sashing cross-examination without
g,s .ia,sering or presenting "a weak
i,n 30 MIR n rness lie Omitted h y
~ 'es on ball games, but said he had
49, 20 only twice in his life, and both
~ ,'mes backing his own aide 10
sss nai said teammate Who shared
sIsvsa. thcse bets was the only other
Ea{sr Of hjs experience he had knogn
set gn The rssust Of q g,fnr
ar Heydier Ia Of the onjnion TIM,
fys,s" ne w case against Chase developed
| aais characteristically apparent
/ tnas'ehce tna~s On the field and q we'll
h. propensity for Kidding" that he
Inaass pesn known 10 possess.
tess " was said, untii the serioue-
1sIn,sa 90 adverse verdict had been