Pueblo chieftain., 1921-03-15

Chicago, March H.-lne inNestiSa
ton into alleged gambling. bribery and
game throwing in major league base
ball was opened officially in Scptem-
bcr. 1920 when Judge Charles a. Nc
Donald, Chief Justice of the CRIMINAL
Court, charged the Cook county grand
Jury with investigating reports whlch
had come to his attention concerning
fixed" games.
The grand jury Investigation which
followed. brought league presidents.
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 former major league
players. two alleged gamblers and
former champion puGilist on charges
that they had conspircd for the White
SoX team to deliberately lose games in
the 1919 world series with the Cincin-
natl Reds 1t also was charged that
Certain SoN players had accepted
bribes ranging as high as $4,000 to
throw games.
Through the investigation. a world
champion team was wrecked and con-
dtions we're revealed which eventual
~ resulted in new deal for baseball
with Federal Judge keneshaw II.
Landis as civilian baseball commission
or with supreme powers TO run the pro-
fcssional game as he saw fit with the
object of keeping crookedness out of II
forever.
While Judge MacDonald's charge to
the 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 il had not
been played on the square and testi-
mouy given tho grand jury revealed
that various baseball officials had con-
Quoted private Investigations for
months but without definite results.
These rumors came to a head when
n Chicago paper. in copyrighted
article. exposed an alleged attempt to
fix National league game in Aug
ust. 1920
dcrcd and the Investigators started on
the 1919 world series. Tho days that
followed produced one sensation after
another until finally Edward V.
Cicottc. White SoN pitcher. once rated
the best in the American league. with
tears in his eyes confessed that he had
received 10000 to throw games and
named seven OF his teammates as asso-
ciates in the alleged deal
Following Cicottc's confession. tho
jury voted indictments against him.
Claude Williams, leading southpaw
pitcher of the league. Joe Jackson and
Oscar Fclsch. two of tho games best
outfieldcrs Buck Weaver. brilliant
third bascman. Swede RishcrE. short
stop. Fred McMullin, utility player. and
Chick Grstndil. first baseman of the
White SoN in 1919 but not with the club
in 1870.
Tho indictments were voted the day
Cicottc onfcsscd-September IS. 1920
As soon rs they were announced, Joe
Jackson went to tho jury and confess
cd to receiving 5000. saying II was
given to him by Claude Williams. The
ncAt day Williams confessed to receiv-
Ing $4,000 ard to giving 5000 of II to
Jackson The money was given him
by Gandii, Williams said
Williams named Gandil and two
gamblers who were introduced TO him
rs Brown" and sullivan" as the go
bctwccns who arranged the deal with
tho White SoS players.
Indictments Immediately were voted
against Brown and sullivan. Later Hal
Chase once known as tho prince OF
first basemcn." Bill Burns. former
major league pitcher. and Abe Atteu.
once world champion fcathcrwciEht
fighter, were indicted as. tho men who
helped engineer the alleged deal TO
throw the series.
Tho indictments charged conspiracy
TO do an Illegal act and obtaining
money under false prctcnscs, Charles
X Nims. "A local sportsman. was named
in the indictments as having been do
rrauded of $3.50 through the series. he
having bet that amount on the White
Sox.
Cfcottc told tho grand jury his slo.-
ON was given him before tho series
started. II was placed under his pill.
low. he said. Concerning tho actual
throwing of tho games. the pitcher
confessed to only one deliberate mis-
play Hc said he purposcly hit Fath.
the first man UP in the first game, hut
then rcpented and after that played
his best throughout tho series. Cicottc
talked to several officials before going
a. fttrN chambers. TnCAc
o,,icisls quoted him as confessing TO
other misplays, but the hitting OF Rnth
vas the only one officially reported to
the grand jury by the pitcher.
williams and Jackson said they did
no, actually throw any games. Tho
other players claim that they did not
receive money and did not throw any
games. jackson. Williams and cicot'e
wore the only indicted players TO go be-
fore the grand jury.
Williams said tho eight White SoN
players met with Brown and sullivan