I don’t think there was any evidence Shoeless Joe took the bribe (and I don’t remeber reading about him confessing anyhting on it ! Maybe he did !) His Series performance certainly didn;t look like he was throwing the game.
I think he also is accused of sitting on the information.
Yes, I’ve heard Shoeless Joe’s relatives have repeatedly petitioned the Hall of Fame. No proof he ever took any money but, like Buck Weaver, he sat on information. I always felt that these guys and Pete Rose (betting on his own team) got a raw deal at worst and equal punishment for what was clearly not an equal crime at best.