The New York herald., 1921-07-27
SOX CONFESSIONS
ARE READ TO JURY
Defence Object to Admission of
References to ''Players, In
fielders and Outfielders."

CHICAGO, July 26.-With several hun
dred fans straining their ears in utter
disbelief and incomprehension the con-
fessions of Eddie Cicotte, Joe Jackson
and Claude Williams were read to the
jury late this afternoon by Special AS
sistant States Attorney Edward A.
Prindiville.
The reading Of the confessions started
early in the morning. but was halted
abruptly by an objection of the defence
to the admission OF references to ball
players, infielders and outfelders." They
charged that such references might ap-
ply to unconfessed defendants.
Judge Friend. before whom are being
tried the BLACK Sox" and the gamblers.
said to have been associated with them
in conspiracy to throw the 1919 world 8
series, halted the trial and called all
attorneys into his chambers for confer
ence.
Out of the jury's hearing Judge and
lawyers went over Court Stenographer
Smiths notes on Cicotte's confession,
thirty page statement, working out on
understandable version. Judge Friend
had previously ruled that only those
parts of the confessions which applied
exclusively to Joe Jackson. Claude Will
Jams and Cicotte. the confessed con-
spirators, could be read. The defence
held that this ruling bars all references
TO other players, whether by name or
not.
Four Black Sox Unworried.
Gandil, Risberg, Felch and Weaver
sat back unworried. as the luck had
broken more than even. In the omission
Of the other players names the State
asserted that Chick Gandil, the first
baseman whom Manager kid" Gleason
of the Sox imported from the Western
coast. was especially lucky. 1t was
Gandl whom big Bill" Burns. the
States star witness. named with Eddie
Cicotte as the player who promised him
before the Chicago team left New York
prior to the Cincinnati games. to "let
him in on something easy"
Neither John II. Hydler. president OF
the National League. nor Byron B.
Johnson. president Of the American
League, will be called by the State. 1t
was said The defence may insist that
Johnson be called, however, in order to
examine him.
William Maharg, captioned by the de-
fence 'The Mysterious Mr.. Maharg."
arrived to-day to tell his story. His
testimony, 1t was said. would rival that
of "Bill' Burns In sensations. His ap-
pearance is eagerly awaited by the nine
lawyers for the defence. who have been
hoping for a chance to cross-examine
him with reference to the old feud be-
tween Ban Johnson, president Of the
American League. and Charles Comis-
key.
PuxxIed by Maharg's Identity.
Maharg's identity has puzzled the de-
fence It has been said that his name
was Graham spelled backwards and
that he was a ball player.
He Is supposed to have been in on
the know" in the Ansonia Hotel in
cident, Is said to have been armed with
letters Of recommendation to Arnold
Rothstein, a New York gambler. and Is
said to have been delegated to provide
the "backer'' for the masterpiece Of
baseball chicanery.
Prosecutor George E. German an
nounced that Maharg would be the last
witness for the State and that the case
probably would be completed by to-
morrow night.
1t was learned to-day that two base
ball players so far not mentioned In
connection with the case probably would
be called to aid the State in rebuttal
One of these Is believed to be New
York Giant, who. 1t Is said. shortly be-
IOre the 1919 WOCiO SeTics tooh uiec
gamblers to Rothstein to zee what aid
they could give him in swinging "a big
DEAL" Rothstein, 1t was reported later.
refused to work" with the men. The
other player to be called by the State
is, or was. a member Of the American
League.
Some Not Involved.
AS the case now stands the BLACK
Sox"-Cicotte, Williams. Jackson. Ris-
berg, Weaver and Felsch-and one gam
bier. David Zeiser, appear the only men
against whom the State will try to
make a case. Carl Fork. st. Louis
manufacturer, and Louis and Ben Levy.
alleged gamblers Of Dies Moines. have
not been definitely involved.
Attorney Alfred Austrian. counsel for
Charles A. Comiskey, president of the
White Sox baseball team. to-day ap-
peared In tho Criminal Court Building
with the signed confession OF Williams.
This document was one of the number
said to have been stolen from his office.
Ban Johnson was quoted as authority
for the report.
I'm twenty years and ten and a half
months nothing has been stolen from
my office" Austrian said to-day. II
| have tallosd to Ban johnson and don I
know where these stories originate"