Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-25
SAYS NAT|ON-WID |
| GAMBLING RING IS
IN BALL SCANDAL.
Evidence Before Grand
Jury Shows Dark Plot
to POllute Game. -
FOREMAN DECLARES FEW {
PLAYERS ARE INVOLVED
National Pitcher Benton Says
White Sox Got 100000 to j,
Throw World Series. >
HEYDLER ISSUES CHALLENGE
Declares Sport In His League in
1910 and 1920 Conducted on
Its Merits. ~"
FOREMAN DECLARES FEW {
PLAYERS ARE INVOLVED
HEYDLER ISSUES CHALLENGE
Declares Sport In His League in
1910 and 1920 Conducted on
Its Merits. -

CHICAGO. Sept. 24.-The Cook
County grand jury. investigating al
legged fixing" of games in last
years worlds series and charges OF
gambling by major league players.
has found such convincing evidence
OF crooked work that it will not dis
band when its term expires. Septem-
Der 80. but will continue It's investi-
cation in special session. It was
announced tonight after the jury had
adjourned until next Tuesday.
The ramifications OF the alleged
gambling were SO widespread that Il
would be impossible TO complete
thorough investigation during the
regular session, Henry H. Brigham,
foreman said.
Mr.. Brigham tonight told news.
paper men that the name Of the man
who fixed tho 1919 world series for
Cincinnati to win had been given to
stated, acted as representative of a
ring OF gamblers who offered Chicago
White Sox players money to throw
games to the Cincinnati Reds.
Summon Rig Sport Figures.
Brigham declared that he testi-
mony thus far given HAD caused the
grand jury to decide to subpoena
Arnold Rothstein. of New York.
millionaire turfmnn and controlling
owner OF the Havre de Grace race
track; William Burns. former Chi
cago American, and Cincinnati Ma
tional League pitcher: Abe Attell,
former featherweight boxing cham
pion. and several, other weil-known
sport smsn. - = * -,-
The Jury has received evidence
which indicates an attempt by a ma
tion-wide ring Of gamblers to pol.
lutte baseball and ruin the great ma
tional game In the same way box
Ing was killed and horse racing cruci-
fed" Mr.. Brigham said In g state
ment sumuarizlng the work of the
jury thus far.
Few Players Implicated.
Comparatively few players are i'm
piicated. however. said Mr.. Brigham.
only Few weak-moraled and weak
charactered men. oeing preyed upon
by the professional gamblers"
Other portions OF Mr.. Brigham's
statement follows:
'"Thcse unscrupulous tricksters
members OF the gambling syndicate)
have without doubt reached some
of our moro weakly charactered
baseball players.
Enlightened testimony is coming
from many men whose motives are
sincere. with the intent of placing
the game and keeping 1t upon the
nigh level 1t has occupied In the
past.
The subject Is an interesting one.
and the grand Jurors are agreed that
baseball has been constructive
moral influence In American life.
Every normal boy learns to play
and love 5asebaH; It becomes part
OF his school training, and II cannot
be played we'll unless 1t is played
fairly.
1T is the character-buildinE pro-
cess OF almost every American youth.
What crumbling OF ideals takes
place, therefore, when a few profes-
sional crooks pollute the national
SPORT
Tho grand Jury will appreciate
any clues that lovers OF clean sport
throughout the country may give II
that the game may be free from this
menace"
Coniskey As.aiI. johnson.
simultaneously with Mr.. Brighan,'s
statement came one from President
comiskey. OF the Chicago American
League Club, saying he had not had
the full support OF President johnson,
OF the American League, in his at.
tempts to run down charges OF
crooked work by some players on
his team. After seeing this state
ment. President Hermann, of the
Cincinnati club. Chlcago's opponents
in the worlds series. said .he knew
positively President Johnson made An
eager investigation"
President Johnson, when he testified
before the grand Jury Wednesday. told
reporters he had given the jury evil
dence which he believed proved that
star players had attempted to throw,
games last year. but had no evidence
OF such actions this year"
Say Report Foolish.
statement attributed to President
Johnson yesterday quoted him as say
ins he had received reports that gam.
piers who were said to have "ixed"
last years world series had threat
ened Chicago players implicated with
exposure IL they won the pennant
this year, and had told them they
must lose In the present series with
Cleveland, Chicago won yesterday,
but was defeated today, Q to o.
Members OF the team IN Cleveland.
today characterized this report as
foolish.
Jacob "Ruhe" Benton. Now York
Some Are Inpoxsibie. E q