Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1920-11-25
immediate prosecution will be insti-

immediate prosecution will be insti-
tuted.
Cicotte's confession to the grand
Jury came after numerous witnesses
had testified concerning rumors they
had heard that he was implicated in
the deal through which eight Chi
cago White Sox players were given
100000 to throw games to Cincin-
natl in the 1919 world series. A
confession made by Billy Maharg, a
Philadelphia prize-fighter, told the
newspaper men that he knew OF the
deal, was believed to have influenced
Cicotte to go before the jury. He
testified that he was given $4,000
which was placed under his pillow,
to throw games. He named Buck
Weaver, Swede Risberg Happy
Felsch, George McMullin, Chick Gan
dill, Joe Jackson and Claude Will
liams as his confederates in the
game selling.
Williams and Jackson later con-
fessed before the jury and Felsch
was quoted by newspapers as hav-
ing confessed to their reporters. Ris-
berg, McMullin and Weaver, how
ever, maintained their innocence and
are planning to fight the case. Gan
dill was not in the league this year.
He was quoted as denying implica-
ton in the plot, but his whereabouts
Is not now known. The jury voted
indictments against the eight play
ers as soon as Cicotte finished his
testimony. The indictments were
returned later.
u. p. Cassaday, OF Detroit, CT
cotte's attorney, conferred with the
state attorneys over the pitchers
confession and possiblk testimony.
At this conference, according to the
state officials, Mr.. Cassaday prom
ised that Cicotte would tell the court
the same story he told the Jury. As
result it was arranged for the
pitcher to furnish bonds without
personally appearing. While other
indicted players who have voluntar-
ily surrendered have been required to
furnish $4,000 bonds, Cicotte's bail
was fixed at $1,000 on the plea Of
Mr.. Cassaday that II would work n
| financial hardship on the White SoS
player 20 force him to put up more
than that amount. Mr.. Cassaday de-
posted $1,000 in Liberty bonds as
bail.
While no official announcement
was made bv the states attorneys
office. an official let II become
known that but for Cicotte's testi-
monv the fury never would have had
sufficient evidence to indict more
than one or two persons and that
! there would be little chance for con-
viction without the pitcher as state
witness.
"Before Cicotte confessed we had
reams Of hearsav evidence" this Of
ficial said "But none OF II would
have held in court. We might have
returned a few indictments on II but
that would have been the end OF the
case. We wanted conviction and not
indictments, and in order 70 get the
evidence necessary, we had to have
confession. OF course we have to
concede something 20 such a witness
and we'd rather see Cicotte free and
convict the rest. than to let them all
get away"
This official refused to say
whether an agreement for immunity
had been reached with Cirotte before
the pitcher confessed. He also de-
clared that the jury received evil
dence against a club owner Of the
American league and we'll known
baseball player in the same organiza-
ton but that no indictments were re-
turned against these men because
the fury did not think the evidence
sufficient to convict on . trial.