New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-10-02
District Attorney Wants
to Learn if Fixers Bet
or Were Paid Winnings
on Series i'm This CITY
Officers Unable to
Find F orrner Boxer
Gamblers in Other Places
Involved in Inquiry Are
Reported in New York

District Attorney Swami an
nounced last night that an investi-
cation had been begun by his office
20 determine if a felony had been
committed in this city in connection
with the fixing of last years world
series.
He said he has several process
servers out trying To find Abe Attell,
the gambler and former feather
weight champion, whom he wished
to question in regard to the scandal.
He had reason to believe, be de-
clared, that part of the crooked base
ball scheme was carried out in New
York, and was convinced that Abe
Attell knew who did the fixing.
There were no charges against At
tell, said Mr. Swami, who wants to
question Attell merely as a witness.
1t appears from this move that the
authorities looking into the affair have
discovered that the important gamblers
responsible for the fixing are all in
this city, and that they can best be
dealt with by the local authorities. II
was reported that Mr.. Swami was act
ing on the new evidence obtained by
Maclay Hoyne, States ATTORNEY o.
Cook County, Illinois, furnished him by
two New Workers who were said to be
neither gamblers nor baseball players.
While definite statement to this eff
feet could not he obtained from the
District Attorney, he said he was act
ing IN cooperation with the Illinois
prosecutor"
Move Is Against Gamblers
Mr.. Swann's action is regarded as
more important for the moment than
the Inquiry now proceeding at Chicago.
because of the fact that while the
authorities have been able to reach
the players involved no progress
seemed to have en- made in getting
to the gamblers "higher up" who we're
thought to be in tins city.
My process servers have been out
looking fer Mr.. Atten for the last
three days" said District Attorney
Swami last night, but have not been
able to find him believe he is tell
ing the truth when he says he knows
who did the fixing. Personally, I have
no doubt that he does know who did
the fixing and we want him to tell
US.
eve would like to know where and
when it took place and the identity of
the men who participated in the crook
ed deal. 1t IS quite possible, and I
have reason to believe that many bets
in connection with the throwing were
placed i'll this city by the men in
volved and that these bets were the
fruits and results of contracts between
the gamblers and the players to throw
the game. If We find this to be true
these men Will have felony to answer
for in this county.
Wants to Know Where Bets Were Made
I'VE have been told that 100000
was won as the result of the frauds
We shall ask Mr.. Attell and probably
others where these bets were made
and paid. We have reason to believe
ehat part Of the schems to defraud
was Matched and consummated in New
York City. We will leave nothing IN
done to assist the investigators at Chi
cago IN arriving at the facts and to
bring those responsible for the scandal
TO justice"
Efforts to reach William J. Fallon,
attorney for Abe Attell. last night were
fruitiess. Among the gamblers it was
reported that Attell had not been seen
about his usual haunts for three days
and that he has probably left town
Gamblers point to Mr.. Swann's desire
to reach Attell rather than Arnold
Rothstein as conclusive proof that
Rothstein has been definitely absolved
of all connection with the fixing
There were reports. too, issuing from
Chicago, that States Attorney Hoyne
had tried to get into touch with repre-
sentatives of Attell and his associates
in an effort to have him testify before
the grand jury under a promise os
leniency If he were found culpable Mr.
Hoyne, however, had told reporters
just before departing for Chicago that
he had not spoken to either Rothstein
or Attell. 1t is pointed out that Mr.
Swans action may have been inspired
by the Illinois prosecutors inability To-
reach the former prizefghter.
Sullivan Believed To Be Here
A canvass of the hotels in the city
failed to find sport" Sullivan, the in
dicted gambler, who as said to have
left Boston for New York Thursday
night
1t was the opinion in gambling
circles that he was in hiding here and
guidance Of Mr.. Fallon. Attelps law
yer.
Nat Evans, associate OF Rothstein,
who also was declared to have won
large sums on last years world series,
could not be reached at his apart
ments in the Hotel Commodore yes
terday. Gamblers say that Evans
never mixed with the associates Of At
tell, and point out that he was i'll a.
White Sulphur Springs last year dur
ing the time Of the world serlea.
Nick the Greek" = well-known Chi
cago gambler, noted chiefly for his
4igh-stake dice playing, was also said
70 have arrived in town He was one
of those mentioned as having bet large
sums OF money on the Cincinnati team.
Gamblers Said TO Have Rushed Here
1t was run1ored that numerous others
Of the gambling fraternity had rushed
10 this city from all sections Of the
country. possibly in an effort to leave
the jurisdiction of the Illinois courts.
and to agree upon some definite plan
or defense. 1t was generally knowu