I can see them speaking amongst each other and other guys from the neighborhood who may not have been involved in the illegal aspect of things, and how things like being "knocked down" wouldn't be considered private to them. You're speaking mostly around and too guys you've grown up with and known your whole life. I think that's plausible.
Yes they did speak freely but as soon as something like treason that would have " been "kept quiet.
As far as being knocked down that night Yogi was with five or six of us and we were drinking and shooting pool and told the news several times .
Being knocked down is the kind of news that's gets around sort of a punishment type a thing .
And that was Yogi he spoke his mind to a certain point !!
