The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-27
Vets Not Guilty of Fixing
1919 Game, High Com
missioner Rules.
Continued From Page u

BY resolution of Sept. 9, 1926,
the American League directors re-
quested that a hearing be held re-
specting allegation by Hubert Leon.
ard OF improper conduct by Cobb,
Speaker, Joe Wood and Leonard, in
connection with the Detroit Cleve-
land game of Sept. 25, 1919, and two
letters to Leonard by Cobb and
Wood relating thereto
Cobb, Speaker and Wood were
available, but Leonard, a retired
player, residing in California, de.
clined to attend a hearing. There
fore, his statement was taken in
California and in substance was that
this game had been fixed Cobb.
Speaker and Wood branded this
charge as false. A wager had been
made, but they vigorously denied the
game had been fixed as they in
sisted upon an opportunity to face
their accuser.
Accuser Stays Away
Leonard, however, persisted in his
refusal to come, and despite the fact
his attendance could not be forced,
the hearing finally was set for Nov.
20, and all parties, including Leon
ard and the American League presi-
dent and directors, duly notified.
Leonard replied he would not be
present.
cobb and Speaker appeared Nov.
81 and were informed of Leonard's
attitude, whereupon they canvassed
the whole situation with the commits
sioner and reached the conclusion
they would rather quit baseball than
have a hearing with their accuser alb
sent. Their reasoning was: The
mere announcement of charges of
this character, whatever the per-
sonality or motives Of the accuser,
or the scarcity or even absence of
evidence supporting the charges,
would be harmful to the accused per-
sons, experience having shown that
a vindication by baseball authority,
based upon a manifest insufficiency,
or even total failure of supporting
proof, has been labeled a white
wash
Concerned About Wood
while they insisted they had no
doubt of their ability to answer the
charges, Cobb and Speaker were
concerned about the possible effect
upon themselves and others i'll whom
they were deeply interested. They
appeared to be particularly respect
ing the situation Of Joe Wood"
"These considerations, as Cobb and
Speaker represented the matter to
me, brought about their desire to
suit baseball, despite their appreci-
alton of the fact that such action
might be ;lsconstrued.
'Inasmucl, therefore, as Leon
ards attendance could neither be in
duced nor enforced, the commits
sioner consented that the hearing he
put over indefinitely, and it was I'M
derstood that would be the end of
the matter, unless conditions there
after should so change as to require
a different course.
ut was pointed out at the time
that a number of people knew or
had heard of the Leonard charges
and of the Cobb and Wood letters,
and the likelihood of suspicion and
rumor resulting from a retirement
in these circumstances Of two play
~P inn FULLY
discussed. And it was definitely I'm.
derstood that the interests of all con-
cerned might thereafter require
public statement setting forth the
charges and answers.
Clubs Grant Releases
1.-THE American League directors
were informed of the status of affairs
and that Cobb and Speaker desired
t oleave baseball for the reasons
stated. Accordingly, the Detroit and
Cleveland clubs grained releases and
the American League directors
rescinded their resolution calling for
a hearing, with the same under
standing that this ended the matter
unless subsequent developments
should necessitate hearing and pub.
lication.
Shortly thereafter gossip and ru-
NOR got busy. AS usually transpires
when these two kindly, sympathetic
agencies are at work, they left in
their wakes a variety of progeny
infinitely more harmful to the in
dividuals concerned than the truth
could possibly be. Many press asso-
Citations and scores of newspapers
were persistently demanding the
facts.
Therefore, Cobb, Speaker and
Wood were called to Chicago and
the situation laid before them. They
all realized that untrue, distorted
and earbled accounts were being in
fluenced, and agreed that a hearing
had become desirable, even with
Leonard persisting in staying away.
Accordingly. final effort was made
to induce Leonard to attend, but
again he refused. The hearing was
held and the commissioner at once
issued the record for publication, in
accordance with his definite under
standing with Cobb, Speaker and
Wood
The Official Decision
This is the Cobb-peaker case.
These players have not been, nor
are they now. found guilty of fixing
a ball game. By no decent system
of justice could such finding be
made. Therefore they were not
placed on the ineligible list.
'As they desire to rescind their
withdrawal from baseball, the re-
leases which the Detroit and Cleve-
land clubs granted at their request,
in the circumstances detailed above,
are Cancelled and the players names
are restored to the reserve lists of
those clubs.
"KENESAW lands,
Commissioner"