Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-07-22
BURNS NOW SAYS
S0X formulated
SELL-0UT Plan
TeStifieS That Eddie CiCotte,
Chicago HurIer, Came to
Him With Proposition to
Crook World Series.

10 luEOW lIle I9AJ NOllu SOiACn NNAS
not approached on the deal by
gamblers or corrupted by q gamb-
ling clique, but formulated the con-
spiracy themselves and went to
New Workers and former baseball
players for financial backing, Bill
Burns, admitted accomplEe and
states witness, testified today in the
trial of seven of the players and
four others who are under indict-
ment in the case.
Eddie Cicotte, Of Detroit, former
White Sox pitcher and once rated
as the best in the American league,
made the sell-out proposition to
Burns and Gandil and Cicotte then
volunteered the information that
they could have the series thrown
for one hundred thousand dollars,
Burns testified.
Burns testimony to this effect
was admitted late today after
Judge Friend three times had bar
red it temporarily while the attor-
neys could look up supreme court
rulings on the question. 1t was
looked upon by the state as among
the most important part of the
witness testimony, since it was
lief that the players were corrupted
by millionaire gamblers and to
show that the alleged conspiracy
had its inception in New York.
The testimony was given in relat-
ing details of conversations be-
tween Burns, Abe Attell, Hal
Chase, Cicotte, Gandil and Bennett,
identified by Burns as David Eel
ser, of Des Moines. Iowa, de-
PENDANT. These conversations
were said by the witness TO have
taken place at the Ansonia hotel
in September 1919, and were con-
tended by the defense to be mad
MISSILE on the ground that they
took place prior to the inception Of
the conspiracy.
Burns testified as follows upon
redirect examination:
Odd you ever meet Eddie
Cicotte in New York?
Ayes, on September 16, 1919,
I think it was, at the Ansonia hotel.
The White Sox had not then
clinched the pennant and Cicotte
AOlh lllV lAlehb IL llAb DOa WOIl lllN
pennant he had a big deal I would
be interested in and that I could
get in touch with him at the War
ner hotel in Chicago. He said he
wanted me to get one hundred
thousand dollars.
Q-When did you see him again?
Al think it was September IS,
1919, at the Ansonia. Chick Can
dill was with him. Gandil said the
world series could be thrown for
one hundred thousand dollars, that
is, for twenty thousand dollars each
for five men then in on it. He
asked If I could help get the back
ing. I said I would try.
Burns previous testimony of
how he went to see Arnold Roth
stein on the proposition then was
read, Before he had not given
Rothstein's answer but today he
testified that Rothstein turned
down the deal.
Q-When did you next see any
of the men?
A-Two days before the first
the Ansonia. Bennett. Abe Attell
Hal Chase and Maharg were there.
Bennett said he was Rothstein's
lieutenant and that Rothstein had
agreed to come through. / said it
was funny he wouldn't come
through for me and Attell said he
saved Rothstein's life once and that
he got him to come through. Ben
| nett wanted to know what kind of
a deal 1 could make with the play
ers and IL I would take him to
them. Bennett said he was auth
orized to handle Rothstein's money
Burns previously had testified
that after this he, Attell, Mahare
and Bennett went to Cincinnati and
told the players everything was ar
ranged. Three more players had
come in on the deal then, he said
but he was not permitted to name
them and Judge Friend ruled thai
this part of his testimony applied
only to the men with whom he haG
talked.
Having placed before the Jury 1T
contention that the alleged con.
spiracy had its conception in New
York and its birth in Cincinnati
the state tomorrow plans to change
the scene to Chicago. John Sells
secretary of the Chicago Nationa
league club, is expected to be the
first witness and it is understood
that he will testify to seeing bets
paid to Abe Attell.
The states chief witness, II
baseball parlance. today hurled ex.
cellent ball, permitting the defense
but few hits in the gruelling cross
examination. He was forced Il
change his original testimony a.
to a date of meeting with Ben.
nett and occasionally got twisted
on street numbers. But at no time
did he become ruffled under the
4 fire of the defense and the smile
never left his face.
He joked with his questioners
questioned them at times and
/ matched his wit against theirs in
repartee. When Ben Short, de-
Tense attorney, became particular
| ly acrid and said: "You don't like
\ me, do you Bill?" the witness re-
= Piled:
4 Sure I do, Ben. You're a smart
\ fellow and I wish we'd had some
one like you at the head of this
deal. Wed all be rich now"
| Asked If he had Joined villa
when in Mexico, Burns told Attor-
i ney Michael Ahern that he
wouldn't associate with Villa, or
with you either, Mr.. Ahern."
When Mr. Short asked II he
liked this cross examination "bet-
ter than the six-shooter examina-
ton so prominent in Texas" Burns
said that sit made no difference,
for a gang of lawyers like you fell
lows can't worry me any,"
The chief loopholes found In
Burns testimony by the defense
were his admission that he had not
talked with the players on the
night of the first game in Cincin-
natl, whereas he previously testi-
fled he had met with them that
night, and then corrected his first