Evening journal., 1921-08-03
ACQUIT NINEOF
BASEBALL PLOT
Seven of White Sox Players
Garry Jurors on Their
Shoulders
JUST VERDICT,
DECLARES COURT

CHICAGO. Aug. 3. The seven
former Chicago White Sox baseball
players and two others on trial for
alleged conspiracy TO defraud the
public through throwing Of the 1919
worlds series games last night were
found not guilty. The jury took only
one ballot
The verdict was reached after two
hours and forty-seven minutes OF de-
liberation. but was not returned until
forty minutes later. Judge Hugo NJ.
Friend being out Of court when the
decision was reached.
Announcement Of the verdict was
greeted by cheers from the several
hundred persons who remained in
court for the final decision. the
shouts Of "hooray for the clean Sox. q"
Judge Friend congratulated the
jury. saying he thought it just YER
dict.
Eddie Cicotte was the irst OF the
defendants 20 reach the jurorR He
grabbed William Barrett by both
hands shouting his thanks.
Joe Jackson. Claude Williams and
the others were close behind and the
jurors lifted them onto their shoul-
ders while fiashlisht photographs
were taken.
Bailiffs vainly pounded for order
and. finally noticing Judge Friends
smiles. Joined in the whistling and
cheering.
Hats sailed high in the air. papers
were thrown around and the court
room was the scene OF the widest
confusion In any recent Cook county
criminal case.
AS the jurors filed out Of the room
they were slapped on the back and
shouted congratulatory words by
the spectators
The defendants were: Buck
Weaver, third baseman; oscar
Felsch. outhelder; Charles Risberg,
shortstop; Arnold Gandil. first base
man; Claude Williams and Eddie CT
cote. pitchers; Joe Jackson. out
helder-an former White Sox play
ers-and Carl Fork. Of St. Louis. and
David Zelcher, - Des Moines.
The defendants, on hearing tn,
nine verdicts solemnly read by tn,
court clerk, gave vent 10 their feel
ings in varied manners. Throughou
the hours the jury deliberated tn
men on trial had paced UP and dow
at times, gathered In little group
10 quietly discuss the case. or re
mained secluded.
When the three loud knocks Of
the jury door were heard. indicatini
a verdict. everyone jumped for IN,
courtroom, but the excitement wa
momentary. il being some time be
fore Judge Friend could be reached
Buck Weaver and 'Swede" Ris
berg were the most excited over tn,
verdict grabbing each other by tn,
arms and shouting In their gladness
Felsch and Williams merely smiled
while Joe Jackson took the decision
very quietly. Gandil shook hand
with a few friends and quietly slip
ped from the courtroom.
I'll give a sailors farewell TO Bal
Johnson" said Gandil. Good bye
good luck and 10 - with you"
Il knew I'd be cleared sal,
Weaver, 'and I'm glad the publi
stood by me until the triql was over.
Judge Friend, in his instruction
which he spent most OF the Afternoon
In preparing. told the jury that tn
state must prove that IL was tn
intent OF the Chicago White So,
players and others charged will
conspiracy. through the throwing o
the 1919 world series to defraud N
public and others and not merely 4
throw the baseball games.
Those indicted by the grand tur-
as a result OF the baseball scanda
were as follows:
Eddie" Cicotte, former star pitch
CT OF the White sox; Claude VIII
liams, former White Sox pitcher
Arnold C"Chick") Gandn. forme
first baseman; Charles (''Swede"
Risberg, former shortstop; Georg
Buck" Weaver. former third base
man; Joe Jackson. former outheld
er; Oscar (''Happy'D Felsch. forme
outfielder; Abe Attell. former pugil
list and alleged gambler: Hal Chase
former baseball player; william
CBill'D Burns. former player an,
alleged go between: Rachael Brown
alleged New York gambler; John J
CSport') Sullivan. alleged Bostoi
gambler; David Zelcher, Des Moines
Ia, advertising man and allege,
gambler; Louis Levi and Ben Lew
brothers, OF Des Moines; Carl Fork
OF ST. Louis