The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-20
Lieb0witz Pressing New York Hoop Scandal
DEWEY AID MAY BE SOUGHT
 ON GlMRl FRS

New York. Feb. 20- (UP) -Dr. Harry E. Gideonse, president of Brooklyn College, testified yester- day at an open hearing into alleged irregularities in connection with athletic contests that the schools basketball squad was warned last fall to beware of gamblers.
 Gideonse, the first witness called in the inquiry. said the warning was given because of the general knowledge about the activities of gamblers and because of the possi- bility that players of Brooklyn College might be exposed.
 The inquiry grew out of the bribing of five Brooklyn College players to throw a game. The five players, who admitted having re- ceived 1000 of promised 5000 bridge, were dropped from the team and later expelled from college.
 Gideonse said he had come to Madison Square Garden only once to see basketball game. Asked by County Judge Samuel s. Leibowitz whether he saw gamblers operating there he replied:
 "No, but some people were point ed out to me in the garden as ones who were probably gamblers"
 Gideonse said that after the present investigation by the Kings County County (Brooklyn) Dis trict Attorney Is completed, he may appeal to Gov. CThomas E) Dewey or some other authorities in order that this community may be safe one in which an educational institution may be operated"
 He testified that he favored the expansion of athletics at Brooklyn College and defended the schools decision to play in the Garden.
 "The students want to play in the Garden" he said. ITO play in the Garden is the goal of their am- bition.''
 Richard Boyce, director of ath- letics at Brooklyn College, testified that Ned Irish, acting president of the Garden, called a conference of basketball coaches and college ath- leticS directors in November, 1944, and warned them of the possibility of gamblers trying to approach players
 Boyce said Irish told them he was trying to stop gambling at the Gar den and gave each of them small slip of paper on which the telephone number of police official was printed. Boyce said he told them that if anyone tried to approach their players they should get ill touch with the police official imme- diately.
 Morris (Tubby) Raskin, Brooklyn College basketball coach, testified that he took all possible precautions to keep gamblers away from his players.
 On the day before the team was to play in the Garden, he took the players to hotel where they could relax before game, he said, and he ordered that no strangers be per- mitted in either the hotel room OF tn dressing room at the Garden.
 T advised all the coaches to bring home to their players the conse- quences of any dealings with gam- blers", Raskin said. Tt was the fartherest thought from my mind that Brooklyn College players would be approached. I felt that our team was not strong enough to be ap- preached. We were generally the under-dogs."
 In answer to question as to whe- ther any Brooklyn players worked for the Garden, Raskin said that Irish told me he could use six of our players, two nights week at s night, to supply the press with soda water"
 The hearing then was adjourned until Friday when Raskin probably will be recalled as a witness.