New Britain herald., 1926-12-22
COBB AND SPEAKER
 ASSERT INNOCENCE
Maintain Leonard Is Simply
 Seeking Revenge

Chicago, Dec. g tG9 - The at tention of the baseball world cen- tered today on seVen-year-old game, that between the Detroit and Cleveland American league teams on September 25. 1919, around which charges of fixing. involving two of the greatest players known to the game. have been made.
 The long smouldering bombshel, the subject of many recent rumors broke yesterday and sent frag- ments into many places, but today those named as conspirators came back quickly with denials of wrong doing.
 Cobb, Speaker Deny Wrong
 Ty Cobb and Iris Speaker. idols of thousands of baseball fans. and holders of many baseball records, declared they were innocent of be- ing involved in 8 conspiracy to throw the ball game and to bene- fit by betting on the outcome of the contest, made by Hubert Dutch) Leonard, one-time pitcher for Detroit, and made public by Baseball Commissioner Landis.
 In addition they declared they had attempted to get Leonard, now living on a ranch in California, to face them, and Commissioner Lan- dis, In giving out Leonard's testi- mony. mentioned that the former ball player repeatedly had refused to present the charges at hearing at which Cobb and Speaker could be present. Finally the commission or called upon Leonard in his Cali fornia home.
 Cobb Never Bet, He Says.
 Cobb, who recently resigned as manager of the Tigers, said in Chi cago that he had "never bet cent on an American League baseball game" and denied that he knew of any plan to throw" the game, while Speaker, who likewise resign ed his managerial berth with Cleve- land after the close of the season, asserted in Cleveland that he was innocent of any wrong doing, charging that Leonard deliberately falsified any statement he has made that duplicates me-"
 Commissioner Landis, in making public 100 pages of testimony in the case, made no ruling because Cobb. Speaker, Leonard and Joe Wood, former Cleveland pitcher mentioned in the case, all were out of baseball, but said that a decision as to the attitude of organized baseball would be forthcoming if required by chang ed conditions,
 Leonard's Testimony.
 Ieonards testimony was that Cobb, Speaker Wood, and himself met under the grandstand of Navin Field in Detroit, on September "A, 1919. and agreed that Detroit should win its game with. Cleveland the fol- lowing day. giving the Tigers chance to finish third In the Amerl- can League pennant race. In ad- dition, Leonard said, the four plan ned to benefit on the outcome, with each putting up sum of money put that only he and Wood won Sl3o apiece when Detroit won. as Cobo and Speaker did not put up thelr share of the money. The charges were supported by two letters, one from Wood and another from Cobo, both containing allusions to betting.
 Explains the Wager
 Cobb acknowledged he had sent letter to Leonard, but called the bet to which it referred as wholly legltl- mate and one of the sort frequently entered into by baseball players. The Georgia Peach. said that, While he refused to bet on games In ms own league, 1t was a frequent GUS tom among players to make such bets.
 'I have been In baseball twenty two years" he said. T have play ed the game as hard and square and clean as any man ever did. All I thought of was to win. every year, every month, every day, every hour. My conscience is clear. I will rest my case with the American fans
 Speaker called himself the goat of the game, declared he was not mentioned in the Leonard letters and added: T know nothing or any wagers being made in this con test or of any fixing, The only thing they have against me Is the word of 8 man who is behind this flare-up, Leonard. I have requested repeatedly that Leonard be brought fin to face me but he has positively refused to come into a meeting"
 Speakers Statement.
 Maintaining that he had been told o. threat by Leonard to get him after the latter had been waived out of the American League, Speaker said he hoped the former pitcher would appear before Landis and clear his name. ''The testimony on file with the commissioner, together -