Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-03-17
Baseball
dropped
State Drops Charges
Against All Members
of White Sox Except
Gandil

Chicago, Mar. 17.--The state to-
day dropped the cases against all
of the former Chicago White Sox
baseball players indicted for the
alleged throwing OF the 1919 world
series except Chick Gandil.
The action was taken after
Judge Dever had refused to srant
continuance of more than sixty
days in the case. The state demand
ed six months on the grounds that
it would take that length of time
to gather new evidence which
would give the prosecution a
chance of conviction.
New Indictments Sought
Immediately after the action had
been taken, Robert e. Grove, states
attorney announced that an at
tempt would be made to gather
new evidence and that new indict-
ments would be sought against the
men. The players, whose cases
were dropped. were those who mad
surrendered and gave baif name-
ly, Claude Williams, Joe Jackson
Oscar. .Felsch, Swede Risberg, Ed
die Cicotte, Fred McMullin and
Buck Weaver.
The cases of Gandil, Hal Chase
Rachel Brown, Joseph ]. Sullivan
Abe Attell and Bill Burns were
1 stricken off the court call By
Judge Dever. They were charged
with being the men who arrang'
ed the alleged conspiracy. Taking
the cases off the call prevents
calling them upon again for si'
months
Testimony Corrupted
Mr.. Grove In his announcement
that the cases were dropped SAT-
the he was convinced that
crime had been committed bu
that corruption of the states prin
eipaI witnesses made it impossible
to go on with the case"
Joe Jackson, Eddie Cicotte an
Claude williams, the men who con
( fessed to the grand jury, have bee
' corrupted, he declared. ''Withou
l their evidence our case is hope
I less"
E Saws Gases Not Finished
e This case is not finished, how
ever, and these men have not es
j capped punishment" Mr.. Crow
, continued. 1--WE are going right al
/" ter the evidence that will convic
and we know where to get 1t.
"When this evidence has bee
? procured I shall personally go be
fore the grand jury and seek me-
indictments. And there will be n
mistakes rext time.
> "A peculiar conspiracy has striI
: iped the state of its three chief W
nesses. don't know just how tn
conspiracy came about but I kno
# existed and that through 1t III
Z testimony given by Jackson, WI
n liams and CicOtte was lost TO US.
q ALSO. a news syndicate In SON
: underhanded way obtained copi'
q of the grand jury testimony ar
e offered 1t for sale. Thus it has b
come plain that the defense WI
in full possession OF all of our e
idence and to proceed would
useless"
Mr.. Grove also said that
seemed very peculiar that the d
lfense should have made no mo-
for a trial during the months aft
3 1.-The indictments were returned, b
9Jnow, when the state was in hol
the defense was very anxious
L. proceed
Il In reply to this, Michael Ahea
Of counsel for Weaver. Felsch, N
I" MulIin and Risberg, made the Il
s. lowing statement:
be We always have been ready
,a trial. Our clients do not want
a half way vindicadon as result
N the nolle presses. They want TO
On fully cleared. II there are new
djctments. we will demand an
r. mediate trial"
I'd Rumors that Cicotte. VILLA
TO and Jackson would repudiate tn
.vsi grand jury testimony when cal
IS TO trial had been circulated Tor
I'D leraI weeks. but Mr.. Groves cha
ed j Of corruption was the first forr
announcement from the states
torney's office.
In January, shortly after N
Lay Hoyne left office az states
torney. it was reported that
records in the jury invesugat
had been stolen. Later IL devei
81 ed that Mr.. Hoyne had copies
all the testimony made. WI
called on BY Mr.. Grove for an
o. plsnafion. Mr Hoyne declarsd
- COPIES had been made as part
- The routine In such cases and {
All Of the material was locked
- in the states attorneys office VI
he lsft-