Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-01-30
Case Double Double
Cross in Illinois
Towns Football Crazy

Chicago, Jan. 29.-(By A. P.)-Indi-
cations tonight were that Gus Desch
and John Mohardt. Notre Dame foot
ball stars who were said to have play
ed with Carlinville, ILL.,. in the profess
sional game last fall against Taylor
vile, Ill. which resulted in disqualifi-
cation Of nine University Of Illinois
athletes, would be cleared of any con-
nection with the collegiate football
scandal.
Developments today tended to show
that Dcsch and Mohardt were innocent
victims of case of false identity,
which was the second instance Of dou-
BILE crossing in the bitter rivalry be-
tween the two towns over the game.
Carlinville people bet approximately
$4,000 on the game, it is said. after
hiring 10 college players for their
eleven, only to find that Taylorville
lad learned of the plan and procured
nine Illinois athletes for its team,
which won 1G to 0.
Both Desch, member of the Ameri-
can Olympic team, and Mohardt, an
All-American halfback selection, last
night issued formal denials that they
played in the game and today present
ed evideE.-, to the Notre Dame author
tiles at South Bend, Ind, that they
were in school the day of the contest.
When the Carlinville people, who
thought they had hired the two play
ers, learned of this they frankly de-
clared that undoubtedly they had been
imposed on by persons using the
names Desch and Mohardt. ard that
besides being beaten at their own
game of safe betting" they had been
the dupes of the ringers" they hired
to make the betting safe.
At South Bend, Desch and Mohardt
presented their evidence at an informal
! meeting of some members of the col
| lege athletic committee and later these
members expressed the opinion that
the two men were innocent and merely
victims of circumstances.
A formal mmeting of the commit
tee will be held tomorrow at which
an siilot AAullOl SdlllClSu WILL NC
gone over The reports spread
| through Carlinville proves to the
game were that 10 Notre Dame men
! had been procured to play and that
the game had thus been clinched
and the betting made safe. "Desch,
Mohardt and Chester Wynne," who
the townspeople had been informed
were Notre Dame stars, were to ap-
pear in the lineup. but Wynne also
has positively denied participation in
the game and announced that he can
prove his assertions.
Knute Rockne, Notre Dame coach,
tonight told The Associated Press
that the authorities undoubtedly
would take drastic action if the in
vestigation showed that Notre Dame
men played in the game.
| I'VE do not want to go off half
cooked" said Mr.. Rockne. but we
are bending every effort toward a
thorough investigation. Of each de-
! tail of this affair. 1 believe that
Desch and Mohardt are innocent, but
can readily see how the Carlnville
| people might have been deceived into
! believing that DeSch and Mohardt
were playing on their team.
| IF any Notre Dame man is found
guilty of playing professional. foot
ball or in any way violating the col
| lege rules either in spirit or letter,
we will not be the least bit fenient.
We cannot for we have to protect
our college and we must protect COL
| lege football from the encroachments
professionalism is trying to make on
! it.
We feel the highest regard for the
Illinois authorities for their action
and l know that Notre Dame will be
severe If any of her men are found
| guilty.
MIR. Rockne has long been known
as staunch enemy of professional
| football.