Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1921-03-14

been received from Hal Chase. Rachel
Brown. Bill urns or Joseph j. Sullivan,
charged with being the men who arrang-
ed the alleged conspiracy.
The investigation into alleged gambling,
bribery and game throwing in major
league baseball was opened officially in
September, 1920, when Judge Charles A.
Macdonald, chief justice of the criminal
court, charged the Cook county grand
jury with investigating reports which had
come to his attention concerning Fixed
games.
The grand jury investigation which fol-
lowed, brought league presidents, CLUB
owners and star athletes to the witness
stand. 1t finally resulted in the indict-
ment of eight members Of the world
champion Chicago White Sox team. two
former major league players. two alleged
gamblers and a former world champion
pugilist on charges that they had con-
spired for the White Sox team to delib-
erately lost games in the 1913 world Sc
ries with the Cincinnati Reds 1t also
was charged that certain Sox players had
accepted brides ranging as high as S1o,-
600 to throw games.
Through the Investigation, a world
champion team was wrecked and condi-
tions were revealed which eventually re-
suited in a new deal for baseball with
Federal Judge Kenesaw NJ. Lands as ci-
william baseball commissioner with su-
preme powers to run the professional
game as he saw fit with the object of
keeping crookedness out of it forever.
While Judge MacDonald's charge to the
jury was the official opening of the inves-
tigation by the state, there had been
many runlors since the close of the 1919
world series that it had not been played
on the square and testimony given Athe
grand jury revealed that various base
| ball officials had conducted private inves-
! LEGATIONS for moHhs, but without def
mite results.
| These rumors came to head when a
| Chicago paper, in copyrighted article
exposed an alleged attempt to "fxP a
| National league game in August, 1920.
| The jury investigation then was ordered
and the Investigators started on the 1918
world series. The days that followed
| produced one sensation after another un
| til finally Edward V. Cicotte, White So1
pitcher, once rated the best in the Ameri
can league, with tears in his eyes, con
fessed that he had received $4,000 t.
i throw games and named seven of hi
teammates as ASSOCIATES in the ALLEGED
deal
/ Following Cicotte's confession, the jur!
voted indictments against him, Claud
/ Williams, leading southpaw pitcher of TIL
league. Joe Jackson and Oscar Felsch
two of the games best outfielders, Bucl
Weaver, a brilliant third baseman, Swed
Risberg .shortstop. Fred McMullin, utilit,
lplayer, and Chick Grandil. first basemal
of the White Sox in 1919 but not will
the club in 1920.
The indictments were voted the da-
! Cicotte confessed-Sept %, 1920 Al
/ soon as they were announced, Joe Jack
son went to the jury and confessed to re
ceiving $4,000, saying it was given to hin
by Claude Williams The next day vii
liams confessed to receiving $4,000 an
to giving $4,000 of it to Jackson TIL
money was given him by Gandil, William
said.
J Williams named Gandi' Hld two gam
blers who were introduced to him a
Brown" and Sullivan" as the go-be
tweens who arranged the deal with tn
White Sox players.
Indictments Immediately were vote
j against Brown and Sullivan. Later Ha
Chase, once known as the prince of frs
Ebasemen," .Bll Burns, former najo
| league pitcher, and Abe Atter, once worl
champion featherweight fighter, were in
dicted as the men who helped enginee
ithe alleged deal TO throw the series.
The indictments charged conspiracy t
do an illegal act and obtaining money ur
der false pretenses. Charles K Minis.
local sportsman, was named in the ir
4 dictme1ts as having been defrauded {
$3.50 through the series he having BIZ
that amount on the White Sox
Cicotte told the grand jury his $1,000
Twas given him before the series started
1t was placed under his pillow, he sail
Concerning the actual throwing of tn
games, the pitcher confessed TO only on