Trial of 18 Baseball Players Accused of Throwing 1919 World Series, June 27, 1921

Selecting Jury to Try 18 Players for Alleged Throwing of 1919 World Series

Chicago, June 27—Trial of 18 baseball players and alleged gamblers indicted in connection with the 1919 world’s series scandal went over until Wednesday after 10 of the defendants had appeared in court today for the opening of the trial. The delay was caused by Judge Friend’s ruling that Carl Zork of St. Louis, one of the defendants, must be in court on Wednesday morning. Counsel for Zork and for Ben Franklin, another defendant, had presented affidavits that their clients were too ill to appear. Judge Friend also ordered the state to report on Franklin’s condition at the same time.

Chicago, June 27—with a special venire of prospective jurors ready for examination, the case of the 18 ball players, alleged gamblers and others indicted in connection with the 1919 world series baseball scandal was to be called to trial today by Judge Hugo Friend, of the criminal court.

The 18 men indicted by the two Cook county grand juries which investigated the case were:

Chick Gandil, White Sox first baseman in 1919.

Eddie Cicotte and Claude Williams, White Sox pitchers.

Swede Risberg, White Sox shortstop.

Buck Weaver, White Sox third baseman.

Happy Felsch and Joe Jackson, White Sox outfielders.

Fred McMullin, White Sox utility player.

William Burns, former major league first baseman.

Abe Attell, David Zelser, Louis and Ben Levi, Carl Zork, Ben Franklin, Rachel Brown and Joseph J. Sullivan, alleged gamblers, who are charged with organizing the reported conspiracy.

Zork and Franklin were not expected at the trial, although under bond, both having sent affidavits that they were too ill to come here from their homes in St. Louis.

Brown, Sullivan and Barnes never apprehended, while Attell won his fight against extradition from New York and Chase’s fight against extradition from California was not contested by the authorities there and will not be tried unless they voluntarily appear. All the others were under bond and their attorneys said they would appear for trial.

The taking of testimony is not expected to start for at least a week, attorneys for both sides estimating that it would take at least that long to get a jury.

Of the 18 defendants, all but the four—Lewis, Zork, Franklin and Zesler—were indicted last September when the first grand jury investigation was made. The state was not ready to prosecute when the trial was called and a second grand jury probe resulted in indictment of the 13 originally known and also of the Levis, Zork, Franklin and Zesler.

From the front page of The Charlotte News, Monday, June 27, 1921. Last name was spelled Burns on first reference and Barnes on second reference in the newspaper.