New-York tribune., 1920-10-05
Prosecutor Says He Knows
Two Wealthy N. Y. Men
Who Were Suckers to
The Extent of $4,000
Brown Reported
TO Be Fugitive
Absence of Abe Attell and
Other Witnesses DELAYS
/, Grand JuryInquiry; Fal-
lon Defends Rothstein

District Attorney Swami asserted
Yesterday he was convinced there was
a master mind behind the fixing Of
last years worlds series baseball
rames and that he had good idea who
this man was He remarked it was
peculiar circumstance that persons in
certain circles were Fastening to alb
solve the man he had in mind of all
connection with the scandal.
Mr.. Swami declared he was unable to
20 through with the grand jury pro-
ccedings he had planned for yesterday,
because he could not get hold of GER
tam witnesses. OF these, he said, Abe
AtteN, the former prizefighter and
gambler, for whom process servers
hal been searching with grand jury
suop1nas, was the most important.
He had also been in touch with "two
very wealthy, but none too wise, gen
tlemen OF the city" who lost $50. 900
and $4,000 respectively on last years
world series. They had been persuaded
to bet on Chicago against Cincinnati
by the man whom Swami believes to
he the master mind Of the fixing deal
and who got the suckers money. The
District Attorney says he is unable
to persuade these two men to tell him
or the grand jury about it, because
they are unwilling to let it be known
that they were taken in. They deny,
too, all knowledge Of the fixing.
Fallon Exonerates Rothstein
For the first time a member Of the
bench was dragged into the scandal.
He IS SAID TO have been present at the
Hotel Astor when Arnold Rothstein
was approached by the would-b be fxers
and with whom, runs the story, he
nearly came to blows in turning down
the proposals. Mr. Swami said that
judges were not above the law and that
he would present a case against any
man. however prominent, as soon. as
his Office obtained the necessary infor-
nation.
1t was reported yesterday that
"Rachie' Brown, a gambler known to
have been associated with othstein,
departed hastily on liner Saturday
for Europe. 1t is possible that Brown
knew something of the throwing of
last years baseball games and that
ne left the country to escape question
ing 1t was recalled that man known
simply as Brown" had been indicted
by the Chicago grand jury in connec-
ton with the fixing scandal.
10 substantlate mis- contention that
'ne existence of master mind was all
aryth, William J. Fallon. attorney for
attell, told story yesterday to the eff
fect that the scandal was the out
growth of a drunken party.
;, me truth Of the matter is" said
failon, that some time before the
got drunk. He met Billy Burns and
Burns told him what he wanted to do.
burns told Attell he had seen Arnold
Rothstein and that Rothstein had
turned the proposition down hard, call
Ing him all sorts of names and declaring
ne would have nothing 10 do with any
such scheme Burns said he had even
ordered him out of his place.
After reciting this to Attell, Burns
appealed to Attell to try to have Roth
stein reconsider the proposition. When
Atteil called Rothstein up on the tele-
panone Rothstein told HIM the same
'plng ne had told Burns, and Attell
aha Burns then broke away from Roth
stem. They and 'Curley' Bennett then
put their heads together and Bennett
sent fake telegram to Chicago, signed
with Rothstein's initials.
kothstein knew nothing about that
telegram and Attell says that Rothstein
had absolutely nothing to do with the
ceal: am making this statement in
justice to Rothstein, although l am
hot his attorney'
Says Attell Got Tip
falon said he thought Attell was in
"a New York and that he would be glad
70 appear before the grand jury if the
process servers found him and were
armed with the proper subpnnas.
But for Attell to appear before the
grand jury under the present circum-
stances" remarked Fallon, "would be
aothing more than a social chat. Even
Attell is guilty-and | am convinced
he is not-he will not go before the
Continued on page sIx)