Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-20
low a M an
In
so" Trial
Mysterious Bennett" Pointed
Out by "Bill'' Burns as
Man Who Helped
Frame Conspiracy.
identified Before Jury
By G. D. M'KINNEY.

Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire.
Chicago, July lo.-With the de-
iendants on their toes for the first
time since the "Black Sox" trial
opened and the fans in the crowded
court room hanging breathlessly on
his every word, Bill" Burns, for
mer White Sox pitcher, told the
jury his story of how the 1919
worlds series was thrown for $780,
600.
His testimony, the most drama
tic yet entered in the records, was
climaxed as he finished the details
of the purchase and sale of worlds
series by rising dramatically to his
feet at the end of the days session
and pointing out one of the defend
ants as the Mysterious Bennett"
the alleged lieutenant OF Arnold
;Kothstein, New York gambler. who,
the state says, financed the conspi-
racy.
Names Iowa Man.
David Zelser, an alleged gambler
from Des Moines, was the man
\ named. All afternoon Burns had
y Aspoken repeatedly of Bennett as
1the man who worked with Abe Attell,
the former pugilist, and Arnold
Rothstein in framing the conspiracy.
As the hands of the clock neared
S, the hour of adjournment, Assist
ant States Attorney German sudden
ly asked if Bennett was in the court
room.
"He is," answered Burns.
A buzz of comment ran through
the court room.
DO you see him?"
(, "Yes. He's behind that post and
the former big Lacquer pointed
toward one of the pillars on the west
side OF the court room Hes the
man in the yellow shirt"
Judge Friend ordered that the man
designated arise and be identified
before the jury.
Z Max Lusker, attorney for the three
gambler defendants, jumped to his
feet and protested against the iden-
t;ieation OF Bennett. He was over
ruled. The attorney then told the
jury that the man pointed out was
his client, David Zelser.
Stormy Session Expected.
Burns will finish his direct testi
inony sometime tomorrow morning,
then he will be turned over to the
usaefense for cfoss-examination. A
stormy session is expected, as the
attorneys must break down his story
ii they are to destroy the web of evil
dence already woven around their
clients by the state. His testimony
is expected to take up the whole day.
The other high lights of the ses-
sions was the failure of Burns to
mention Joe Jackson, former Sox
outhelder, who made a confession last
fall as one of the players present
when the conspiracy was formed,
and a ruling by Judge Friend that
evidence of meeting between the
gamblers and players in New York
City prior to the Cincinnati meetings
could not be entered as evidence.
Attorneys Prindeville and Tyrrell
for the state. declared that the omis
sion Of Jackson's name had little
significance, as other witnesses
would forge his name together with
the other conspirators. They were
iubilant at the end of today's ses-
sion. declaring that Burns testi-
mony was a crushing blow for the
defense.
Burns Nervous.
Burns. dressed in a dark-green
ehcckered suit and wearing law
ender shirt. soft collar and bow tie
took the stand at 2.35 O'Clock. He
appeared nervous at first, wiping his
face repeatedly with white hand
kerchief and rubbing his hands over
the bald spot on his head.
= When he began talking, however,
he leaned forward with his chin
resting on his right hand and talked
in a low voice that only constant
,,erompting made audible half way
sc ross the court room.
He discarded his coat few min
utes after his examination began.
Attorney German delayed only
few moments placing Burns record
as base ball player, contractor
and oil operator before the Jury.
then plunged into the details OF the
conspiracy. In spite OF countless OBJ