Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-09-23
BENTON DENIES
He WON MONEY
ON 1919 SERIES
n. Y. Pitcher Then Declares
Herzog Offered Him Bonus
to Lose a Game.
WHITE sox UNDER CLOUD

CHICAGO, Sept. 23.-J. C. (Rube)
Benton, pitcher for the New York Giants,
in an interview given today before he
appeared before the Cook County grand
jury investigating basebalrs --latest
scandal" emphatically denied charges by
Charles L. BUCK Herzog. Chicago Cubs
second baseman, that the New York
hurler had won $500 by betting on Gin
cinnati in the worlds series of 1919.
IT never won $500 on any baseball
game or any series" Benton said. After
Herzog and 4 number of others had told
me I could make some easy money by
throwing q game between New York and
tbs Cubs last season. Benton said, Il
went into the game the next day and
put everything 1 had into my pitching
and carried of a victory and double
crossed these trainers that were appar-
emily trying to throw game
SAYS AFFTDAvITS
ARE PURE BUNK.
Referring to the afidavits said to be
in possession Of Herzog and made by
Arthur Wilson, catcher and n. D. (Tony)
Boeckel, third baseman of the Boston
Braves, concerning Bentons betting on
the 1919 worlds series, Benton described
them as pure bunk"
"Those two afEidavits of Wilson and
Boeckel." he said. are pure bunk. The
only betting / did on the worlds series
/ did In a saloon in New York. / bet
the drinks for the crowd. / bet on Gin
cinnati and l put up $50.
81 stayed there until the game was
over, and when Cincinnati won / threw
the money on the bar and said: Drink
IL up"
Asked if he had heard of any kilograms
having been received by anyone connected
with the team during the worlds series,
Benton said:
Eyes, several Of them. I viii give the
grand jury the names of those l know
received kilograms. / was in the room
of Gene Dubuc following the close OF
last season, when the New York team
was transforming in Vermont, and the
benboy brought up. a telegram. Gene
opened it and I saw the top line of it.
1t said: Put your money down on Gin
cinnati.' 7 also know of several other
kilograms that were received about the
worlds SERIES"
These other kilograms, Benton said,
abe would give to the grand jury"
HANDBOOK MEN
GUILTY, HE SAYS.
On top of other charges Benton said:
s.rhere are lots of handbook men who
made it their business to get chummy
with baseball players for the purpose OF
influencing games for the betting bust
ness"
Herzog, when informed of BeRton's
charges, lost no time in denying them.
Its a lie!" HerzOg said. 'BentOn's
been telling that mess of trash for a long
while. / reported it TO the club owner
myself and it was all thrashed out This
is very unjust. I have been player of
There was no necessity for me playing
at all this year. could have retired"
Herzog says he has afidavits showing
that Benton seraped together all the
Ia zrrr1d cot nd va oar on
Cincinnati IN the last worlds series.
1t is alleged that Benton, in CONVEX
sation in the Braddock Hotel in New
York last year, declared he had received
a telegram from Hal Chase advising him
to bet on Cincinnati to win the first two
Herzog declared he had obtained the
dispositions from Wilson and Boeckel,
Boston players, after Benton had charged
him with having offered the pitcher a
bride to throw" a game to tn eCubs.
Buck declared he went to the Office
of John Heydler of the National League
when he heard Of Benton's charges and
demanded an investigation. Benton was
called in, HerzOg declared, and reiterated
his charge in the presence of President
Heydler. After an investigation Heydler
gave Herzog a letter, the player alleges,
In which the head of the league ex-
pressed his belief that Herzog never had
been involved in baseball gambling. The
letter, Herzog says. is in his possession.
ATTORNEY CHARGES.
Herzog's charges against Benton and
Benton's charges against Herzog are
only one angle Of the investigation the
grand jury has undertaken Assistant
States Attorney Harvey Replogle, con-
Quoting the case, has made the public
declaration that the last worlds series
was not on the square and that 'from
i've TO seven players on the White Sox
team are involved"
lie t.
have been inspired by testimony given
before the grand jury by Charles A.
Comiskey, president Of the White SOx,
Ban johnson, president Of the Ameri-
can League and other witnesses who ap-
peared yesterday.
Details of the testimony Of these wit
nesses have not been made public. Both
Johnson and Comiskey, however, are
known to have made investigation when
charges of "crOokedness" followed the
worlds series last ifall.
A number or well-kn5wn baseball
men players, managers and magnates,
are yet to appear before the grand jury.
Among them are Charles A. Stoneham,
president Of the New York Giants; John
McGraw, manager Of the Giants; John
o. Seys, secretary Of the Chicago Cubs:
Mccormick, National League umpire
who officiated at the recent Cubs
Phillies game which is declared to have
been fixed" in the interests Of gam
DicAS Ddl4uCA " ass W uAlc QUA
fan who is said to have lost heavily on
the last worlds series; Players Paul
cite and Rawlings Of the Phillies; Hugh
Fullerton. Joe Villa and William Birch,
baseball writer's.
Fred Merkle, Businessman Of the Cubs,
whose name has become involved through
mention of the fact that he was replaced
by Barber in the Cubs-Phillies game
which is said to have been fixed" de-
clared today he would call for a "show-
down.. and demand that his name be
cleared. Merkle said he was "tired Of
being the goat and that the charges
were SILLY"
At have been in baseball a good many
years, Merkle said, "and I can honestly
There would be too many persons to
frame a deal like that"