Evening star., 1947-03-24
|Dodger Boss Attends
Funeral as Chandler
|Quizzes Others
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Associated Press Sports Writer

By Goyle Tolbot
Assoeiatsd Pres. Sports Writer
SARASOTA, Fla, Mar. "a
Though the main defendant" :"
President Branch Hickey of the
Brooklyn Dodgers, was unable to
attend because, OF a death in his
family, the baseball hearing called
by Commissioner A. B. Chandler
was expected to get under way here
this afternoon, as scheduled.
Chandler declined to discuss the
academic question Of just how
Hickey was to be tried" in absentia
on the charges of defamation
lodged against him by President
Larry MacPhal Of the New York
Yankees. 1t was understood that
Leo Durocher Of the Dodgers and
Harold Parrot, that clubs road sec
retary, would be on hand in the
absence of their chief.
"The hearings will go on as
scheduled" Chandler declared
That's all I have to say about it."
His words were echoed by Presi-
dent Will Harridge of the Amer
ican League after the two had held
an extended conference last night.
Hickey Would Go to Funeral.
Hickey asked for a postponement
OF the trial" upon learning of the
death of his brother -in-law. John
Moulton. at Lucasville, Ohio. He
said he wished to attend his reIa-
tive's funeral.
Obviously, Chandler felt that the
hearing could be held without
Rickey's presence, even though it
was at Hickey that MacPhail direct
ly aimed the 10-page blast which
led to todays session.
MacPhail, climaxing an extended
feud between himself and the
Dodger organization-and it has
many ramifications-is calling upon
Hickey to prove his recent assertion
to newsmen that a known gambler
or two sat in MacPhail,s private box
during an exhibition game between
the Dodgers and the Yankees this
spring at Havana.
MacPhail claims that the men In
question actually occupied a box
Immediately adjoining his, back of
the Yankee dugout.
The truth is that there is a great
deal more to the argument than
the matter of the betting commits
sioners. In print and out, the men,
bers of the Brooklyn organization
and MacPhail have been sniping at
each other for many months. This
merely is the blow-off.
Dresser Shift Irks Hickey.
Hickey made some very biting re-
marks last fall when Charles
"Chuck" Dresser, Brooklyn coach,
signed up as an assistant to Bucky
Harris, the new Yankee manager.
Hickey said that Dresser had made
him an oral agreement to continue
with the Dodgers.
Then, there is the question of
whether Durocher told the new
Pittsburgh owners that he might be
willing to manage their club if the
salary was right. MacPhail entered
into that phase Of the debate as a
so-called middleman, after President
Frank Mckinney of the Pirates
phoned him and asked him to rec
ommend manager for the team.
It all is very involved and Is
something that baseball's official
dom wishes fervently never had
been brought up. Now, however, It'll
has been dropped into Commis-
sioner Chambers lap, and he must
60 through with it. The hearing
might drag through two or three
days before every one has been
heard.
Chandler has acquired former
night club on top of the Sarasota
Terrace Hotel in which to conduct
the great wordfest. He and his Sec
retary, Walter Mulbry, will call IN
the contestants one at a time, or
in small groups, to give their testi-
mony.
Outlook for Parrot Stormy.
At no time will they all be In
there together, Mulbry made clear.
Newsmen will not he admitted to
the hearing, but will be briefed at
suitable occasions by Earl Hilligan,
publicity director for the American
League.
Late last night there was no sign
that either Durocher or Parrott OF
the Dodgers, the principal de
PENDANTS" after Hickey, had made
an appearance in Sarasota. Mac
phail, at st. Petersburg, was only
an hours drive away.
Both Durocher and Parrott have
been summoned by the commits
sioner, Mulbry emphasized. Parrott,
according to information given
Commissioner Chandler by Mac
Phail, was the actual author of
articles appearing under Durocher's
name, which spoke disparagingly Of
MacPhail, individually, and the
Yankees, collectively.
The feeling has been rampant
in baseball circles that Parrott
might receive rough ride the next
day or two Chandler is believed
to be prepared to make somebody
pay for the unfortunate publicity
the game is receiving as of the
moment.