The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-03
Can Not Associate With
Gamblers and Stay in Game.
COmiskey Won't Allow Cleared
Men Back on Team.
THEIR STATUS NOW PROBLEM
Conspiracy Charges Against
BalIpIayers Wiped on.
Verdict Reached After Long
Debate on First Ballot.


Chicago. Aug. 3.-The "black sox,"
despite their acquittal of charges of
conspiracy to throw the 1919 worlds
series to Cincinnati. will never play in
organized baseball again.
Judge K NJ. Landis high commits
sioner of baseball made this emphat-
ically clear in a statement issued to-
day. He declared that no players who
associate with a bunch of crooked
gamblers are wanted in baseball
viii Not Be Reinstated.
Regardless of the verdict of the
jurors" Judge Lands said. mo player
that throws ball game; no player
that undertakes or promises to throw
a ball game; no player that sits in
conference with a bunch of crooked
players and gamblers where the ways
and means of throwing games are
planned and discussed and does not
promptly tell his club about it, will
ever play professional baseball.
"Of course 1 don't know that any
of the men will apply for reinstate-
ment but if they do. the above at
least, are a few of the rules that VIII
be enforced.
Just keep in mind that regardless
of the verdict of the jurors, baseball
is entirely competent to prote itself
against crooks, both inside and out
side the game"
Charles A. Comiskey. owner of the
Chicago White Sox, declared today
that the verdict freeing his former
PLAYERS of conspiracy charges to throw
the 1919 world series, did not change
his stand and that until they cleared
themselves" to his satisfaction he
would have nothing to do with them.
A Jury in superior court here has
said that the ''black sox' committed
no crime in connection with the al
legged conspiracy to throw the 1913
worlds series to Cincinnati. Players
and gamblers accused in the scandal
that turned the baseball world topsy-
turyv a wear ago have been eXoner-
ated The law has no further terrors
for EDDIE Cicotte. Joe Jackson, Claude
Williams Buck" Weaver, Happy
IFelsch, ''Chick" Gandl and "Swede"
Risberg.
Verdict After One Ballot.
The verdict of the jury that ended
the famous scandal trial came just
before midnight. The jurors had de-
liberated four hours and had taken
only one ballot. The clerk OF the
court read one by one the names of
the defendants and the decision OF the
Jury that they were innocent. Besides
Moines, Ia, and Carl Fork of St.
Louis. alleged gamblers and 'fixers'
of the series, were exonerated.
Demonstrations of joy followed the
verdict. The ball players pounded
each other on the back and fought to
shake hands with the jurors. A crowd
of 500 men that packed the court
room stamped and cheered despite the
warning of Judge Hugo NJ. Friend
that no demonstration would be per-
mitted.
Buck" Weaver so far is the only
player to announce that he will fight
to get back in organized ball. Thru
his attorney, Weaver will present q
petition signed by thousands of fans
asking that he be reinstated with the
White Sox. Buck" confidently ex-
poets to be working under Kid Glea'
son again in a few days.
Eddie Cicotte, who admits 81 year:
q is probably about to the end o.
his baseball career, announced that ht
would return to his home in Detroit
but did not say what his plans were.
GandiI Wants Bench Job.
Gandil declared he expected to &c
hold of some good club and manag'
1t, indicating he did not expect to pla!
again in the big leagues. Williams
said he would play semi-professiona
baseball and Joe Jackson asserted h
was thru with organized baseball. H
operate his billiard hall, play littl
sand lot ball and intimated that h
had received an offer or two to shin
before the footlights.
Felsch and Risberg expressed thei
10y at the outcome of the trial bu
did not state what their plans fer tn
future were.
The verdict of the jury, 1t IS be
ueved today resulted chiefly from
point in Judge Friends instructions
Judge Friend instructed the jury tina
in cases where conspiracy to derrau!
the public and the baseball owners
charged it is up to the state to prov
that acts were done by the player
with specific intent to defraud-
Scandal Started in 1919.
Indictment of the players and al
legged gamblers followed an investiga
1919 worlds series when rumors tina
the games had not been decided 20
the lever' became current. The eli
max of the probe came in September
1920. when a grand jury was con
Vened and after a few days, indict
mentst were returned.
Eddie Cicotte, Joe Jackson an
Claude williams made confessions be
fore the grand jury but later repud
ated these confessions. "Bilr' Burn
a former major league player. an
william Maharg, a sporting characte
of Philadelphia, also confessed, turne
states evidence and were granted In
munity.
The original indictments accuse
Abe Attell. former weatherweigf
boxing champion: Hal Chase, once til
prince of major league first basemei
and Fred AcMullin. utility infielde