New-York tribune., 1920-09-28
Ex-B0xer Declares Cicotte
Made Offer to Toss 3
Games to Bill Burns,
Ex-Big League Pitcher
3 Chicago Stars
Named i'm Plot
$1,000 Promised BY
Abe Attell But Only
$4,000 Paid, He Ayers
Especial Dispatch to The Tribune

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 27.-1n Phila-
delphia the complete story of the most
gigantic sporting swindle in the his
tory Of America was unfolded Billy
Maharg, former boxer and we'll known
sporting figure. of this city; said to-
night that he and Bill Burns, the
former Washington, White Sox and
Philly southpaw, were the pioneers in
the conspiracy that resulted in eight
members Of the Chicago American
League team throwing" games in last
years worlds series to Cincinnati.
Evidence came to Philadelphia re-
Gently that Maharg was involved and a
local man visited him yesterday. Ma
harg at first denied any knowledge of
fixed" games but finally admitted that
he and Burns were the irst men ap-
preached by White Sox players.
Maharg's Allegations
The major points of Maharg's revela-
tions charge:
THAT the first, second and final
games of last years worlds series
were thrown by eight members Of the
White Sox team to Cincinnati.
2-That the offer to Elk" the series
was volunteered by Pitcher Cicotte of
the Sox to Bill Burns and Maharg in a
hotel in New York.
3-That the White Sox were promised
100000 to lose the games, but actual
ly received only $4,000.
4-That Abe Attell, the former fea-
therweight champion, presented "a fake
and clique of New York gamblers,
but did not keep his word with the
White Sox players in on the deal or
with Burns and Maharg.
6-Burns and Maharg lost nearly
every dollar they owned betting on the
thru third game which they thought was
"We were all double-crossed by At
tel" was Maharg's naive assertion, to-
night, "and l want everybody who is
reading about this investigation to
know the truth.
II guess had better get to the start.
I am great friend of Bill Burns, the
veteran southpaw. Bill played with the
had career here in the Charley Doom
regime.
After quitting baseball, Burns, who
is Texan, bought oil leases and clear
ed more than 100000. In the middle
of last year, I received a wire from
Burns from New York. l hoped a
train and met Bill at the Ansonia He
invited me to take hunting trip with
him down on his ranch in New Mexico.
We were to take Bill James, one
OF the White Sox pitchers with US.
James had nothing to do with subse-
quent events but while we we're in
the room talking, Cicotte came in and
started to talk in low voice to Burns.
.! heard enough to know that he
said that a group of the most prom
inent players of the White Sox would
be willing to throw the coming worlds 3
series if syndicate of gamblers would
give thin 100000 on the morning of
the first game
Recommended Rothstein
when Cicotte left, Burns turned
to me and repeated Cicotte's conyer-
sation, part Of which 1 heard. Burns
turned to me and said: DO you know
any gamblers who would be interested
in this proposition
1T struck me to be a very peculiar
stunt, and I could hardly believe my
eyes, but there it was before us. Burns
said that in the meantime the hunting
trip would be delayed until after the
series.
81 said I would go back to Philadel-
phia and see what I could do. Burns
said he would have to go to Montreal
to- close an oil deal and that he would
wire me about the progress of the deal.
THAT explains the telegram that
Burns sent from Montreal when he
wired: What have you done about ball
games?'
Il Immediately went to Philadelphia
and saw some gamblers there. They
told me it was too big a proposition
for them to handle and they recon-
mended me to Arnold Rothstein, we'll
known and wealthy New York gambler.
'In the meantime Burns had re-
turned to New York and / went over
again and joined him. We met Roth
stein by appointment at the Astor and
put the proposition up to him. He de-
clined to get into it. He said he did
(CoHtInued page ten)