New-York tribune., 1921-11-28
Soccer League
Officer Sought;
Books Scanned
]. E. Scholefield Removed as
u. S. Football Association
Secretary After Absence
From Office Since Nov. Is
Wife's Search Is Futile
Missing Man Handled Large
Sums, Including Registry
Fees of 14O, 200 Players

With the announcement made yester-
day by George l. Healey, Of Detroit,
president of the United States Foot
ball Association, the governing, ma
tional soccer body, that James Edward
Scholefield, its secretary. had been re-
moved from office Saturday. 1t was
learned that Mr.. Scholefeld had dis
appeared.
According to his associates in the
Office Of the association, at 1876 Nassau
Street, Mr.. Scholefeld has not been
at his desk since November 49, The
first day of his absence a message was
received from him that he was ill.
When week had passed and no
further word had come from Schole-
field, Mr.. Healey directed that an in
restigation should be made. which
should include not only the circum-
stances of the secretary's disappear
ance but also the state of his &C
counts
Handles Fees Of 100000
As secretary of the association Schole-
field each season handled thousands of
dollars in national cup competition "a
try fees, association dividends from
matches in this competition and regis
tration fees from the thousands of pro
fessions among the 100000 registered
soccer players of the United States.
Thomas w. Cahill, of this city, for
mer honorary secretary of the associa-
ton, who was appointed in the emer-
gency to act in Scholefield's place. is
one of the members of misunderstanding
committee. The other member is
Thomas Bagnall, president of the New
York State Football Association.
The committee has not completed its
investigation of Scholehelds books
Officials of the association said, now
ever that whatever the books might
show, Scholefeld was bonded for a
sum in excess of that ordinarily In
his charge at any one time. The po-
ice have not been notified of his dis
appearance, although the bonding COM
pany has.
It was disclosed that .Scholeheld's
wife, who lives with their infant son
in Bristol, Conn, had been in New
York searching for her husband with
out success He went to Bristol over
week ends, making his home for the
rest of the time with his sister-in-law
and her husband in Weehawken.
He was seen in Weehawken, it is
said, the day that he failed to put in
an appearance at his office. From
there he was traced to Union Hill and
Newark, where all trace of him was
lost He is said to have carried a
suitcase.
Renowned as Soccer Referee
Scholefeld is about thirty-five years
old. He was born in Lancashire, Eng
land and refereed in leading English
football leagues before coming to this
country, eight or ten years ago. He is
rated one of the best soccer referees
in the East and continued actively as
an arbiter even after taking office IN
the national soccer administration. He
American Soccer League, the new eight
club professional circuit of which w.
Luther Lewis, of the Bethlehem Steel
Company. is president. Recently
Scholefeld oficiated at the Haverford-
Princeton and Princeton Harvard inter
collegiate soccer matches.
st the time of the appointment OF
Scholefieid by the national commission
of the U. S. F. A. he was president OF
the Connecticut State Football Associ
alton, one of the twenty-five state
soccer bodies affiliated with the ma
tional association. He was the frs
paid secretary the association has had
and succeeded Cahill, one of the found
ers of the national organization, upol
the latter's resignation to organize ant
direct the American League.
Mrs. Scholefield is Scholeaeld's sec
ond wife, his first wife having died
They were married in Bristol abou
two wears ago.