Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-24
BASEBALL PROBERS
WATCH WHITE SOX
Rumor Afloat That Chicago
Does Not Want to Win Amer
ican League Flag

Chicago, Sept. 24.-1nterest in the
rrand fury investigation into alleged
"throwing" Of baseball games by dis
honest players switched today from
Chicaso to Cleveland.
With the gand jury adjourned until
next Tuesday. baseball magnates and
fans are watching the White Sox, for
their victory or defeat i'll the series
with the league leading Indians at
Cleveland may decide the future course
of the investigation. II the White Sox
win today they will displace Cleveland
and lead the league by half game.
Ban johnson, president Of the Amer.
lean League. is reported to have received
rumors that gamblers are trying to
create an impression that the White
sox do not dare win the league pen
nant. According to statements quot
ing Mr.. johnson published by papers
here, the syndicate OF gamblers which.
Il has been charged. bought last
years world series by paying $780,
600 TO five white Sox players, threatens
20 expose the plot If the Chicago team
wins the race.
Mr.. johnson, II was announced to-
dsy. will be recalled by the grand jury
next week to tell what he knows about
this alleged blackmail plot. Other wit
nesses include President Heydler, of
The National League.
Investigation of a report that George
M. Cohan. actor. and Mont Tennes. OF
Chicago. had lost large sums bet on last
years world series was understood to-
day to be user consideration by the
grand jury. Published reports place
Cohan's Losses at $50, 900 and Tennes'
at $50, 900.
Say Actor Lost
The inquiry into the fixing" charges
a to pushed to the limit, according to
4 statement made by Henry II. Brigham,
foreman OF the grand jury, who de-
elared he was shocked at the rottenness
% far revealed. He added that Chi
esgo. New York. Cincinnati and st:
Louis gamblers are bleeding baseball and
corrupting players.
State Attorney Hoype. according to
Q statement received from him in New
York. declared he had no doubt that
the 1919 series was crooked, and that
at least one Chicago player was cor
rupted. He added that report that
Cohan and Tennes had information re-
sarding alleged baseball crookedness
would be thoroughly investigated by his
officers.
Benton Tells OF DTiDe
Jacob c. "Rube" Benton, New York
Giants pitcher. who told the grand
3ug yesterday of being offered a bribe
10 lose a game, named Buck Her
xog, Hal Chase and "Heine' Iim :,
merman in connection with the alleged
offer. In a statement published today
he named four White, Sox players as
having been mentioned to him BY an
alleged member Of a baseball gambling
ring in a discussion Of alleged fix
ing of the 1919 series. d.,
Benton. in his story OF the alleged
s'fxing' of the world series last fall
"Last fall after the series, a man
named Hahn. who halls from Cincin-
natl and is known as a betting com
missioner. visited me at my home in
Clinton, n. c.
Zone morning while we were out
hunting asked him about the world
series. He said the series was not on
the square. He said the deal TO fix
players to throw the series to Cincin :
natl had been engineered by syndi-
cate of gamblers from Pittsburgh for
whom he worked in Cincinnati as bet
ting commissioner.
aHe said certain players on the
White Sox team had visited flttsDurBn
before the series was played and made
arrangements to throw the games for a
price. He said that the players de.
manded S10O, 900 to lay down so that
the Sox would lose and this was paid
them.
Weaver Not Named
1--WE discussed various players on the
team. Buck Weaver's name was not
mentioned. nor were the names OF
jackson. Eddie Collins. John Collins or
Ray Schalk. Five players were men
toned by Hahn in the course of the
conversation. Four are Eddie Cicotte,
pitcher Of the first game of the series ;
Claude Williams, who pitched the sec
ond game: Chick Gandil, first baseman,
and Hap Felsch, centerfelder. Comiskey
held up their checks for the world s
series money for some time. / 90 not
recall the name Of the fifth man.
II do know the tip was sent out OF
Cincinnati to bet on the Reds. Jean