The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-13
PROSECUTION IN SOX CASE SEEKS
 APOSTPONEMENT
State Will Move for Six Months More in Which to Pre-
 pare Case
Rx Assc.iated Press

By Associated Press Chicago, March 12.-Formal an nouncement today by the state that six months postponement would b. sought in the trial of Chicago Whit Sox players accused of throwing th' 1919 worlds series, brought charges from defense attorneys that an at tempt was being made to shelve thu case and leave the indicted players permanently under a cloud of sus picion. The trial is scheduled to star Monday next.
 The prosecution, however, declared the delay would be sought "to make certain that the men back of the se' ries of scandal were driven out oi baseball and into the penitentiary."
 Judge K. M Landis, baseball com. missioner. placed all the indicted play CTS on the ineligible list when he heard of the proposed postponement, and said they would remain there pending the trial, This automatically bars them from playing with any club ir organized baseball.
 Judge George F. Barrett, America league attorney in the case, said the prosecution had found it's evidence was not ready for proper presentation to a jury. New evidence now being gath cred would give the state an impregn- able case, he said, and might result in further grand jury investigation with indictment of men, he declared should have been indicted in the in- quiry conducted last fall.
 To proceed with the case now might make a farce of it and result in guilty men escaping punishment, Judge Bar rett declared.
 FIGHT TO. FINISH
 Thomas P. Nash. attorney for Buck Weaver, Swede Risberg and Oscar F'elsch, and Benedict Short, attorney for Claude Williams. Joe Jackson and allied with D. P Cassidy of Detroit in the defense of Eddie Cicotte, said they would fight to the finish any at tempt to procure a long delay in the trial. Two weeks or 30 days would be granted as matter of courtesy, they said.
 Jackson and Weaver. speaking through their attorneys said they op- posed even a short postponement, as they wanted to be cleared immedi- ately so they could be back in base ball this season."
 Judge Charles A. Mcdonald. who started the grand jury quiz, said that If witnesses repudiated their state ments there might be some difficulty in obtaining convictions. but that he considered the testimony given the grand jury strong enough to convict every guilty person.
 Concerning the possibilities of tha indicted players returning to baseball marry Grabiner, secretary of the Chi cago American league club, said that ouoge Lands now was the ruler o1 baseball and that his rulings would b. accepted in all matters"
 Fresident Charles A. Comiskev wa IT. the west and President Johnson n, the American league also was away.
 Judge Landis' full statement follows
 should regret very deeply the pos.pohement Of the trial of this case however, baseball is not poweriess f, protect itself. All of these nlavers nave been placed on the ineligible lie ana must vindicate themselves befor. .ney can be readmitted to baseball"
 chorliy after becoming baseball conn iiiissioner, Judge Landis said that "eve, | .le players were found innocent. the, would have to answer to him befor, they could play baseball again"
 REFUSES TO COMMENT
 Attorney Cassidy, who recently cam, iieIe rom Detroit to confer with state; attorneys over the trial, refused to com 'ieiit on the postponement announce nAent' put Attorney Nash said that pub iic opinlon was swinging toward the in cicted men, and that the state. knowins II was fighting losing case, was seek ihg the easiest way out"
 we nave petitions signed by 10000 Chi caso 1ans asking the reinstatement 0 BUCK Weaver" he said
 Ihis plea of the states is just hunk lhey are trying to leave these men witl their characters permanently besmirchet ana without an opportunity of clearin, themselves"
 Judge Barrett said that he and tn, states attorneys were in accord on al matters concerning the trial and the de iay was not the fault of the states at torney's office.
 We are fighting for baseball and to the public and we are not going to rui the risk of a trial that might prove to bt Improperly handled
 "A trial improperly handled would xii baseball. We are not going to let tha happen. A proper trial is much nor, | important than an immediate trial -Wha we want to do is purge baseball of tht unclean element and we don't care how long it takes"
 JOHNSON DOUBTFUL
 Excelsior Springs. Mo-. March 12-Bar JOhnSOn. DraSdpnt If fha Anor;ca '