Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-30
DETROIT PEOPLE
HOLD TO FAITH IN
INTEGRITY Of COBB

Detroit, Dec. 29-(P-Major de-
velopments in baseball's latest scan
dal centered, temporarily at least, in
Detroit today. as Ty Cobb came back
to the scene of his years Of diamond
triumph to ascertain whether legal
means existed to exorenate him of
the charge Of fixing" a gaI,e seven
years ago. accompanied by Joe
Wood, former Cleveland pitcher who
with iris Speaker and Dutch"
Leonard were accused with the for
mer Tiger manager, Cobb came to
find virtually all local fandom with
him In his effort.
Coincident with Cobb's arrival to
confer with a prominent Detroit at
torney, came a lengthy statement
from Fred 0. West, N-o--'- Field at
tendant. to the effect that the money
he was del gated to bet on the game
between Cleveland and Detroit on
September rs, 1919, was wagered not
on the game but on horse race. II
was West who Leonard said was
given the money to bet on the game
Cobb came to D. .roit to find that
his attorney, James o. Murfin, regent
OF the University of Michigan, and
former Detroit judge, had placed
a ban on any talking by the former
Tiger leader. He also found an Or
ganized movement under way to nati-
ton for a public hearing &c the
charges against him, Speaker and
Wood. George D. Wall assistant
prosecuting attorney, gathered a
corps Of high school boys together.
intending to send them into offices
to obtain j ""n or more signatures
to petitions for a heo-:~g.!
The petitions. addressed to the
presidents Of all American and Ma
tional League clubs. ask that all evil
dence of the alleged conspiracy be
presented at a public house heai ing
before jury Of IL BASEBALL sports
writer's to be selected by the club
presidents and snecifv that no evil
dence be presented at the hearing
unless Cobb, Speaker and Wood
shall have the right to cross-ex-
anime their accu-"-s. especiall-- HUI
bert Leonard"
The petitions add that in the event
Leonard fails to appear at the hear
Ing of the club presidents should
forthwith publicly exonerate Cobb
Speaker and Wood"
West in his statement absolved
Cobb and Sneaker of any wagering
either on the ball game or on the
horse race. TIL bet on the game
West said, was Leonad's idea, but
when Wood deliveed the money tc
! him West convinced Wood that a
hot tip" on a horse race should be
| played. Wood and West agreed. the
latter said. to make good the bet ii
| the horse race was lost.
West said the horse, named b. him
as "Panaman," won, and he collect
ed winnings of $500, all he w~s able
| to '''oce with two bookmakers. The
winnings, he said, he handed over to
| Wood at the Michigan Central Sta
ton here.
West said Leonard initiated the
| entire transaction, calling him to the
! Tiger clubhouse here on ~~ptembel
"a, the day before the alleged fixed
game. Later, he said. Leo. I'd ad-
vised him Wood would give him the
: money bet the following morning
TIE money. West said, was handed
! to him In an envelope.
Attorney Mur.in exp1ai-' that he
| had admonished Cobb over the tele-
phone at Cleveland this morning mot
to talk" He also said he would have
| no statement to make h'--~~'e unit
he had gone thoroughly into the af-
fair