Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-04-08
Every Knock
Is A Boost
BY SIedae Hammer.

new l OrR IdnS nave Deeu ued1lnS
a good deal here of late about John
ny Monroe, the game little infelder
who had been playing in the Giants
exhibition games with his jaw all
sewed UP as the result of having
been smashed in the face with bat.
Johnny not only is a fine prospect
as a player and a game bird-he's
also pretty smart off the diamond.
A little story. which should not be
10 Johnny Monroes discredit:
Last summer down in Beaumont
something peculiar was going on.
but Manager Joe Mathes just could.
MT get the dope. He thought he had
1t on a certain player. but was not
sure enough to chase the man off
his ball club.
One day the Beaumont team lost
a ball game. 1t was a tight one and
the telling plays were a couple of
passed balls at critical times.
That night Johnny Monroe was
called on the phone. This is So.
and-So," said the voice. I'm com
ing around to take you for a ride at
S o'clock.
Monroe didn't quite catch the
name. but supposed it was some
friend. At o'clock an automobile
drove up and man whom Monroe
had seen about the ball park but
didn't know asked him to hop in.
The conversation started comething
like this:
You came pretty near splitting
the beans with that three-bagger of
yours today; What did you mean?
Was 1t an accident"
Why, yes; guess it was pretty
lucky" answered Monroe. some
what puzzled
We'll, next time You better not
be so lucky, or you won't get yours"
said Monroe's new found friend.
Monroe's head began to work; he
knew that there were suspicious
that certain player on his team
was in the can as they say in
Texas when gamblers have fixed a
player with brides to lose. He CON
Guided he might learn something
so he began to Sherlock Holmes a
bit He had the right bunch.
This was what he got out of his
new friend:
One player on the team was in the
pay of the gamblers While double
crossing the team and fans he also
was working the gamblers. He had
an arrangement to get 5000 for los
ing selected games. The under
standing with him was that to make
sure he should get two other players
''in the can with him, each of the
three getting $500 per game
The crooked player. however, had
no associates on the team in his
crooked work He was pocketing
the $500 all for himself and had told
the gamblers Monroe and another
player were his accomplices, His ef-
forts, by the way. to do all the dirty
work required such energetic mis-
play that he brought suspicion on
himself
We'll, to make it short, Monroe got
all the dope from the gambler who
took him for ride. thinking he was
entertaining fellow crook. Monroe
didn't let him know any different.
The next morning early he told Man
sger Mathes all he had heard,
What sort Of looking fellow was
this man who took you for ride ?"
was one Of Mathes' questions.
Monroe described him; he had a
oscar on his face for one thing
Ia known gambler long under suspic-
The scar-faced man proved to be
ION. Pc found Texas League ball
parks barred against him from that
day on.
And a certain player on the Beau
mont team was told that day when
he was paid off and dismissed that
he'd better get out of town quick if
he wanted to save a hospital bill.