Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-22
What Leonard Testified.

Leonard's testimony was that Cobb
Speaker. Wood and himself met UNI
der the grandStand at Navin Field.
Detroit, on September "a, 1919, and
agreed that Detroit should win its
game with Cleveland the following
day, giving the Tigers a chance to
finish third in the American League
pennant race. In addition, Leonard
said, the four planned to benefit on
the outcome. with each putting up a
sum Of money. but that only he and
Wood won $3.50 apiece when Detroit
won, as Cobb and Speaker did not put
UP their share of the money. The
charges We're supported by two let
ters, one from Wood and another
from Cobb. both containing illusions
TO betting
Cobb acknowledged he had sent a
/ letter to Leonard. but called the bet
to which it referred as wholly legiti-
mate and one of the sort frequently
entered into by base ball players.
The Georgia Peach said that, while
he refused to bet on games in his
own league. it was frequent custom
among players TO make such bets.
Cobb Rests Case with Fans.
IT have been in base ball % years .,
he So i'd II have played the game
as hard and square and clean as any
man ever did. All ! thought of was
10 win, every year, every month.
every day, every hour. My conscience
is clear. / viii 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: 81 know nothing of any
wagers being made in this contest
or of any fixing. The only thing
they have against me is the word
of a man who is behind this f1areup,
( Leonard. | have requested repeated
" that Leonard he brought in to face
me. but he has positively refused to
come into meeting"
Maintaining that he had been told
Of threat nv Leonard to get him
after the latter had been waived out
of the American League, Speaker said
he hoped the former pitcher would
annear before Lands and clear his
name. THE testimony on file with
the Commissioner, together with the
explanations given bv both Wood and
Cobb, proves beyond doubt that there
was no thought of wrong doing on the
part of either man, and there is alb
solutely nothing TO show that the ball
game was fixed"
Leonard Silent on Case.
Leonard. who during his base ball
career had served under both Cobb
and Speaker, refused TO comment on
the case at his ranch home near
Fresno, Calf. 81 will not deny nor
affirm the Commissioners statement"
he said. Il wish TO be non-committal
at present" Later attempts to get
in touch with him were futile, his wife
asserting that he was not at home.
Leonard's two letters provided a
subject of considerable interest today.
Cobb said that Leonard got 500. 900
for those two letters, l understand,
from American League officials"
Asked about this phase, Frank j.
Eavin. president of the Detroit Ameri-
can League Club said he didn't know.
Maybe they paid him for the letters
Il they couldn't get them any other
way"
Navin declined to discuss the affair
saying that Commissioner Lands had
the entire matter in charge. What
ever statement he makes at this time
win be sufficient. Later, when / have
gone into the matter more fully,
may have something to say"
President T.. :. Barnard Of the
Cleveland club spoke of the regret
over the episode and then added:
while both Speaker and Cobb. from
The inception of the charge, have de
MED their personal participation il
the matter. there is conclusive eyi
dence to prove that there was some
thing wrong with the game in CUES
lion. The whole thing is merely addi
yional evidence of the looseness tha
existed in the game just previous t.
the 1919 world series"
Scandal Factor in designations.
That the impending scandal had {
part in the resignation of both man
ayers was limited from several sources
although Cobb denied this, asserting
that his resignation was voluntary.
Ban Johnson, president Of the Amer
lean League, expressed the opinion
that both Cobb and Speaker saw tn
handwriting on the wall and decides
10 pun out" Cleveland sport writer
also believed Speakers resignation
was due TO the impending storm an
not on account OF salary or friction
m the management of the clut
Friends who quoted Speaker as sayin
ne was willing to retire from tn
game in order 10 protect another play
or suggested that the former mar
ager might start u law suit to clea
his name.
do