Arizona republican., 1920-08-18
[RepuplIean A. ?. Leased wIrel

NEW YORK, Aug. 17-New York baseball fans paid final tribute to- night to Ray Chapman, shortstop of the Cleveland American team, who died early today from the blow he re- ceived on the head from a pitched ball in the game between New York and Cleveland yesterday. Tonight Chapman's body was put aboard a train for Cleveland. where it is to ar rive early tomorrow.
 Today while the body lay at the un- ertaker's rooms, hundreds of baseball fans called to view it and tonight act ed as an escort as the coffin was placed on a trunk car that carried it through the station to the train. The fans formed an aisle near the gates and stood with barred heads as the car bearing the body passed through.
 While the death of Chapman has caused sorrow among baseball mag mates, players and fans, none seemed as deeply grieyed as Carl Mays, the New York pitcher who delivered the ball that resulted in Chapman's death. After the game yesterday Mays went to his room and denied himself to all. He paced the floor during the night and when word came today that Chap man had died, he broke down and said he desired to give himself up as soon as possible.
 Mays Grief Stricken
 On his visit to the district attor- ney's office, Mays was accompanied by Charles McManus. business manager of the Yankees: Manager Iris Speaker and Secretary McNichols of the Cleve- land club. Mays made his statement to Assistant District Attorney John F. Joyce. The pitcher, eyes filled with tears and barely able to tell his story. said:
 Tt was a straight fast ball and not a curved one. When Chapman came to bat I got the signal for a straight fast ball. which I delivered It was a duck his head to get out of the path of the ball. He was too late. however, and second later he fell. It was the most regrettable incident of my career and I would give anything if I could undo what has happened"
 After hearing Mays story, Mir. Joyce said he thought Chapman's death was accidental.
 Speaker Exonerates Mays
 Manager Speaker of the Cleveland club, talking with Colonel Huston, part owner of the Yankees, said the acci- dent was unavoidable.
 T do not hold Mays responsible" he added. T have been active in dis couraging my players from holding Mays responsible and in respect to Chapman's memory as well as for the good of baseball, I hope all talk of this kind will stop. I can realize Mays feels as deeply as any man could, and 1 do not want to add anything to his bur den. 1 do not know what prompted the action of the Boston and Detroit players. For my part l think it is de- deplorable.'' Speaker referred to the report from Boston that the players would not play in subsequent games with Mays.
 Grief for the popular shortstop cut deep into the hearts of his admirers as soon as it became known that an op- eration had failed to save his life. The thought that the diamond tragedy would spoil the chances of the Cleve- land and New York teams for the American league pennant was general.
 At her hotel Mrs. Chapman, who ar rived from Cleveland several hours after her husband breathed his last, refused to receive the proffered con dolation of her husbands friends and team mates. Except for Iris Speaker she would see no one.
 The post mortem examination of the body brought no new information. Ac- cording to the autopsy surgeon. Chap man died from a' blow in the left tenn poral region which fractured the skull, depressing part of the bone, which
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