The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-08-03
Verdict Has Approval of
Trial Court, Who Indi-
Gates 1t Is the Only
Thing the Evidence
Would Support = 9th
ers Under Indictment
Still To BE Tried

Chicago, Aug. 3.--None of the
American League players who were
acquitted last night Of an alleged
criminal conspiracy to throw the 1871!
worlds series. has any immediate
prospect of being restored to organ
ized baseball. according to state
Landis, national baseball commits
sioner.
Regardless of the verdict of the
jurors, said the statement, mo play
er that throws IA ball game; no player
that entertains proposals or promises
to throw a game; no player that sits
in conference with bunch of crook
ed players and gamblers, where the
ways and means of throwing games
are discussed and does not promptly
tell his club about it. Will ever play
professional ball.
Chicago, Aug 3.--The seven former
White Six players and two alleged
gamblers brought to trial in the base
ball scandal case today stood legally
cleared of any connection with the al
legged conspiracy for the White .SoX
to throw the 1919 worlds series t.
Cincinnati, jury last night having
lot. The verdict. freeing Buck"
Weaver, Happy Felsch, Chick
Gandil, Joe Jackson, Claude Williams
and Eddie Cicotte-the former play
ers-and Carl Zork. of st. Louis and
David Zelcer, of Des Moines, was re-
turned shortly before midnight amidst
scene of wild cheering, whistling
and welling from 500 spectators which
would have seemed more natural in
the bleachers of baseball park than
in the digniiied court room Of Judge
Hugo Friend.
Judge Friend joined in by copgra,
Ulating the defendants and telling the
jury it had returned just verdict
While only nine Gt the eighteen per-
sons indicted in the baseball investi-
cation were defendants when the case
ended, it is believed that the 1919
baseball scandal has been forever
swept from the boards so far as the
Cook county grand jury is concerned
During the trial the cases of Ben and
Louis Levy, of Komoko, Ind, were
dropped.
Abe Attell Hal Chase, Fred McMul-
lin, Rachel Brown, of New York, J.
j. Sullivan, of Boston, and Ben Frank
lin, of st. Louis, still are under in
dictment but it was reported at the
state attorneys office today that
their cases will lie allowed to lapse
Attorneys for the prosecution toda,
had little to say of the case, but the
1Afr int 41N naf thnt 1x
cne ballot was taken by the jury as
an absolute vindication of the defen-
dants.
Today the jurors expressed surprise
that the case had been allowed to drag
through five weeks Every juoror de-
clared the defense would have receiv-
ed the same verdict had it sent the
case to the jury without presenting
any witnesses.
we thought the state had present
ed weak case" said one Juror. 1T
depended entirely upon Bill Burns
and Burns did not make a favorable
) impression with any of u.s."
OF the players acquitted last night
only Buck Weaver, former third
baseman of the Chicago White Sox,
anu hoWCuc iNiSDCi5 8, lOlA AuCl oHOit tStOl,
. indicated an immediate intention to
apply for reinstatement.
Joe Jackson, slugging outfielder,
said he was through with baseball ana
would devote his time to a store he
has opened here. Chick Gandil,
first sacker, badel adieu to the Ameri-
can League in picturesque and
forceful farewell to Ban Johnson,
president of the Organization.
Lefty Williams, pitcher, said he
would play semi-professional ball. Ed
die Cicotte, famous 'shine BALI
hurler, said he had talked once in the
criminal courts building and would
not dare do 50 again and Hap Felsch,
centerfielder, reiterated his innocence
but announced no plans.
Weaver's attorney, Thomas Nash,
reported he was going Ito put Weaver
back in organized baseball and Ris-
berg indicated a desire to return to
4 major league diamonds, but said he
would "leave his future in organized
baseball in the hands of officials"