The New York herald., 1921-07-29
Honest PLAYERS Aid.
CASE OF BLACK SOX.
Five Chicagoans Travel 800
Miles and Deny Burns's
Tale of Plot Meeting.
ACCUSED MEN SCORNED
Defence Closes Case Abrupt
ly, With Many Witnesses
Uncalled.
PROSECUTION SURPRISED
Comiskey's Profits in 1920
Put at $225,913, Refuting
Charge Of Injury to Club.
PROSECUTION SURPRISED

CHICAGO, July 2s.--The defence in the
baseball trial rested its case Tonight.
The action was taken after five Chi
cago White SoX players, forced by
the law to abandon their team in the
East and journey 900 miles to testify,
had made statements from the witness
stand which tended to disprove some
OF the most important points in the
States evidence against their team
mates charged with conspiring to
throw the 1919 world series to Gin
cinnati.
Eddie Collins, Ray Schalk, Dick
Kerr, Roy Wilkinson and William
Gleason, manager of the White Sox,
testified at night session of court
that the seven former players ON trial
were at Redland Field, Cincinnati,
practising from 10 to ~ A. M. the day
before the first 1919 world series game.
Bill Burns had testified that it was
ON this day and at these hours that he
completed the alleged deal with the
defendants whereby they were to
throw games in the order desired for
100000, receiving $4,000 after each
game thrown.
Tomorrow the State will begin its
rebuttal testimony. with indications
that Judge Friend may order Satur-
day and night sessions of court in the
hope of getting the case to the jury this
week or the first part of next week.
Players Forced to Testify.
The testimony Of the players who are
said to have been double crossed by
the men for whom they were testifying
was brief, each man being asked the
same questions by the defence attor-
neys who had subpnnaed them, thus
forcing them to take part in the trial
whether they wished to or not.
Manager Gleason said he left
Chicago with his team Monday night
two days before the first game.
I'VE reached Cincinnati about A.
NJ" said Gleason, and went to the
Sinton Hotel. A little before 10 the
men went to Redland Field for prac-
tse. We got back to the hotel a little
before noon.'
Gleason said he thought Weaver was
at practice. and was sure Felsch, Ris-
berg. Gandil, Williams. Jackson and
Cicotte. tho other player defendants,
were there.
'"They weren't in the Sinton. then. at
the hours Burns says lie talked with
them?" asked Ton, Nash, defence attor-
ney.
II think not" said Gleason.
Schalk said he believed all the de-
PENDANTS were at practise. as he had
not missed any. Eddie Collins Ray
Wilkinson and Dick Kerr were sure
all were present and Collins said he
and Weaver left the park together and
went TO the races that afternoon.
Schalk then was called as a State
witness.
did you see some OF the defendants
together in a room the evening of the
second gamer" asked George German, of
the prosecution.
81 did, but I can't remember what
ROOM" was the reply. Burns had tes-
tilted as to another meeting that night.
All of the players were asked IL they
had an opinion as to whether the de-
PENDANTS played to the best of their
ability. but the States objections to
answers were sustained
Dick Kerr was indignant over being
called here for two minutes of testi-
mony.
"And rode 300 miles on the hottest
day of the year TO say that" he NUT
tered. as he walked by the defendants
without looking at them. The closing OF
the defence case was announced with
out warning and with score of wit
nesses waiting to testify.
McGraw Is a Spectator.
John McGraw. manager OF the New
York National Lague team. was a spec
tator at the afternoon session of the
baseball trial, and several reasons were
advanced for his visit.
''I just dropped in to see John Heyd-
Ter over a business matter" said Nc
Graw.
MAYBE he came to investigate the
trial record about that little reference
20 Fred Toney, made the other day."
suggested John Tyrrell. Assistant States
Attorney.
Mac just told me he'd like to have me
on his bali club II I'm cleared here and
Judge lands will let me play" Buck
Weaver whispered to newspaper man.
Weaver? Why any club would like
20 have him" said McGraw when asked
about II. But / guess l can't talk
about that now"
Toney was not implicated by any evil
dence In the trial Bill Burns had testf-
fled that Toney happened 20 walk up
while he was talking over the series
with some of the defendants. but that
he left Immediately and heard nothing.
The State refused tonight 10 say
what witnesses II would put on to-mor-
row In rcbuttai admitting that it had
been surprised by the defence's move.
Whether the defence will carry out It's
plan OF putting on the defendants dur
ing rebuttaI was not Known.
This afternoon the defence presented
hotel records 20 show that Chick Gandil
was not living at the Warner Hotel in
the 1919 worlds series. Burns testified
he conferred with him there.
Harry NJ Grabiner. general secretary
OF the Chicago white Sox. testified to-
day that the receipts OF the club jumped
from s521,f7b.76 IN 1919 to Se10.20s.5e
IN 1920. The clubs profit In 1920 was
s225,91s.
This testimony was admitted over the
vigorous objections OF the State. Judge
Hugo NJ. Friend ruling that the defenc, |
was entitled TO show that the baseball
property OF Charles A. Comiskey had