Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-03-14
JUDGE REFUSES
STATEDEL.AYI
WHITE SOX CASE
Declines To Remove In
dictments From Court
Court Call

today refused to comply with mo.
ton by the state that the trial of
the White SoX players and Others
under indictment, set for today, be
taken off the court call. lie order.
ed another hearing for next Thurs
day, when it is believed the date for
the trial will be set. The men are
charged with conspiracy to throw
The 1919 worlds abseball series, in
which the White Sox lost to Cincin.
natl.
The investigation into alleged
gambling, bribery and game throw
ing in major league baseball was
opened officially in September,
1920, when Judge Charles A. Mac
Donald, Chief Justice of the Crim-
nal court, charged the Cook county
grand jury with investigating re-
ports which had come to his atten
tl0n concerning "fixed" games.
$4,000 Brides
The grand jury investigation
which followed, brought league pres
idcnts, club owners and star athletes
to the witness stand. 1t finally
resulted in the indictment of eight
members Of the world champion
Chicago White SoX team, two for.
MGR world champion pugilist on
charges that they had cOnspied for
the White SoX team to deliberately
lose games in the 1919 world series
with the Cincinnati Reds 1t also
was charged that certain Sox play
ers had accepted bribes ranging as
high as $4,000 to throw games.
Through the investigation "a world
champion team was wrecked and
conditions were revealed which
eventually resulted in new deal
for baseball with Federal Judge
kensaw M. Lands as civilian base
bal commissioner with supreme
powers to run the professional game
as he saw fit with the object Of keep
ing Crookedness out of it forever
/ While Judge MacDonald's charge
to INC jury was the official opening
of the investigation by the state,
there had been many rumors since
the close of the 1919 world series
that it had not been played on the
square and testimony given the
grand jury revealed that various
baseball officials had conducted pri-
Vate Investigations for months, but
without definite results.
These Tumors came to a head when
Chicago paper, in d copyrighted
article, exposed an alleged attempt
to "fiX" a National league game in
august, 1920.
Cicottc Confesscs
The jury investigation then was
ordered and the investigators start.
ed on the 1919 world series. The
days that followed produced one
sensation after another until finally
Edward V. Cicotte, White Sox pitch
er, once rated the best in the Amer,
League with tears in his eyes con
fessed that he had received $4,000
to throw games and named seven Of
his teammates as associates in the
alleged deal.
Following Cicottes confession,
the jury voted indictments against
him, Claude Williams, leading south
paw pitcher of the league, Joe Jack
son and Oscar FelSch, two of the
games best outfielders, Buck Wea
yer. brilliant third baseman, Swede
Risberg, shortstop. Fred MeMulfin,
utility player, and Chick GrandiI,
first baseman of the White ScX in
1919 but not with the club in 1920
The indictments were voted the
day Cicotte confessed September %,
1920. As soon as they were an.
nounced, Joe Jackson went to the
jury and confessed to receiving $5,
600, saying it was given to him by
Claude Williams. The next day Will
liams confessed to receiving $10,-
900 and to giving $4,000 of it TO.
Jackson. The money was given
him by Gandill, Williams said,
Williams named Gandill and two
gamblers who were introduced TO
him as '"Brown" and Sullivan as
the go-betweens who arranged the
deal with the White SoX players.
Indictments immediately were
voted against Brown and Sullivan
Later Hal Chase, once known as
the "prince of first basemen," Bill
Burns. former major league pitcher,
and Abe Attell, once world cham
pion featherweight fighter, were in
dicted as the men who helped engi.
neer the alleged deal to throw the
4 series.
Bettor Defrauded
The indictments charged conspir-
acy to do an illegal act and obtain
ing money under false pretenses.
Charles K. Minis a local sportsman,
was named in the indictments as
having been dcfrauded of $3.50
through the series, he having bet
that amount on the White SoX.
Cicotte told the grand jury his
$4,000 was given him before the
series started. It was placed under
his pillow, he said Concerning thc
actual throwing Of the games. the
pitcher confessed to only one DELHI
crate misplay. He said he purpose
ly hit Rath, the first man pp in the
first game, but then repented and
after that played his best through,
out the series. Cicotte talked to
several officials before going to the
grand jury chambers. These Off
clans quoted him as confessing to