Magee's story was this... On July 23, 1918, as the Reds traveled to Boston for a doubleheader, Magee sat in the smoking car, watching out the window. Chase soon joined him. He suggested that they should make a large bet on the first game. Chase made it sound that the bet would be placed on the Reds to win. The bet was to be placed with Jim Costello, owner of a poolroom at the Oxford Hotel in Boston. Magee knew Costello and was going to place the bet himself, but Chase insisted, "No, I'll make the bet." Chase wagered $500 for both Magee and himself and the Reds won 4-2 in thirteen innings. At the end of the game Chase revealed he had bet on the Reds to lose. Magee then stopped payment on his check. The real intrigue began when Jim Costello was called to the stand. He contradicted Magee's tale. Here is a portion of Costello's colorful testimony...
Q: I wish you would describe what was said between you and Lee Magee, if anything was said, on or about July 24, 1918. A: On the evening (in question), about eight o'clock, Magee came in my place looking for me. I says, "What is it?" He says, "On tomorrow's ball game," he says "We can't talk details just now," he says, "But I will have another man tomorrow with me and we will talk it over together." I says, "What time?" He says, "Ten o'clock." The next morning about ten o'clock Magee and the other party comes in the room and we go down in the far part of my room. Q: Before you come to the next morning, what was said by Magee, as to what was to be done? A: He said it was in regard to a ball game the next day; they were going to "fix" a ball game. By "tossing" a game it means your own side loses the game — bet against his own side...The next morning at ten o'clock Magee and the other party came in my room and we go down in the corner and talk things over. Q: Who was the other party? A: I says, "What is your proposition?" Q: (Repeated) Who was the other party? A: The other party was Hal Chase. He says, "The proposition is this," he says. "How much money can you place on a ball game in Boston?" I says, "I can bet an unlimited amount." "Well, he says, "I think we can do business with you, Jim." I says, " I don't do business on ball games myself, so I will get somebody else." He says, "What will we do?" I says, "I want you to understand this in the first place: if you are going to throw a ball game, you have to bet some of your own money, because the gamblers won't bet unless you do." I says, "I have a gambler that can handle the thing for you."