DEVOTED TO BASE BALL AND TRAP SHOOTING VOL. 63. NO. 7 PHILADELPHIA, APRIL 18, 1914 PRICE 5 CENTS The Philadelphia and Boston National League Clubs Start Damage Suits Against Federal League Officials, With the Intention of Harassment All Along the Line, According to Chicago Counsel * member of the Brooklyn Federal League Club, who deserted the Phillies last Winter and who held up the Ward brothers in a most Two National League clubs have arbitrary fashion until they surrendered to started damage suits against the his terms a few days ago. Seaton signed a Federal League in Baltimore and Chicago Federal League contract and objected Chicago. As these cities arc strong to a transfer to Brooklyn until be had been holds of the new independent major fittingly indemnified. league the futility and wisdom of the move migJit be questioned but A War of Reprisal CHICAGO, Ills., April 15. Date for the for the fact that these moves ap preliminary hearing of the two suits of the pear to be only part of a larger Philadelphia National League Club against plan. According to the Chicago James A. Gilmore, president of the Federal legal adviser of the Philadelphia League, and the officers of the Chicago and Club, this is but the beginning of a Brooklyn Federal Clubs was not set yesterday. legal attack by Organized Ball all Marshals were endeavoring to serve the papers on Gilmore, Wecghman, Walker and Joe Tin along the line upon the Federal ker here, and summonses have been mailed to League, thus indicating intention of New York, to be served on Robert and Walter instituting and maintaining a war Ward. "The suits of the Philadelphia Club of reprisal by ioay of continuous to restrain the Federals from tampering with harassing legal proceedings. its players and for $25,000 damages, will be vigorously pushed," Horace K. Tenney, coun sel for the Philadelphia Club, said today,. "They are part of the war all along the line, that will be© waged against the Federals. I Bcsfon Enters Damage Suit have not heard from counsel for the Feder als, so I cannot say on what day we will be NEW YORK, N. Y., April 15. Suit ready to meet in court for preliminary hear for $25,000© on allegation of conspiracy ings. Whether it will be advisable for us to has been instituted by James E. Gaffney, Sush at once for an immediate injunction, we president of the Boston National League ave not decided." Club, against James A. (iilmore, presi dent of the Federal League; Edward Southern League News Hanlon, director; Otto Knabe, manager LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 15. The At lanta Club has released infielder Frank Ma- of the Baltimure Federals, and pitcher nush unconditionally, and has turned pitcher Jack Quinn, of that team, it was learned Lawrence over to Norfolk. The Mobile Club here today. A process server from New has sold pitcher Fred Lieberman to the Cor- York will serve the defendants with pa dele Club, of the Georgia League. The New pers in the case in Baltimore at once. Orleans Club has released outflelder Cochran Mr. Gaffney alleges that Quinn, whose to the Albany (South Atlantic League) Club. The Birmingham Club has received pitcher real name is John Picus, agreed in writ Bill Foxen back from Wilkes-Barre. The ing to accept terms and sign a Boston championship season opened yesterday «nd contract several weeks before he signed Chattanooga beat Memphis, 3-2, in seven in with the Baltimore Federals. He alleges nings; Mobile beat Birmingham, 7-5; New that after the contract was offered Quinn Orleans beat Montgomery, 3-0; and the At he acceded it and the contract was ap lanta-Nashville game was prevented by rain. proved by David L. Fultz, president of the Base Ball Players© Fraternity. Later First Death of the Season he was approached by Hanlon and Knabe NEW YORK, N. Y., April 14. The first death due to base ball so far reported in Now and, in spite of the knowledge that Quinn York and vicinity this season, occurred on© had accepted terms with Boston, was JAMES LAVENDER April 12. The victim, John Nelson, Jr., 18 given a check for $3500, and signed a years old, was injured in a game Saturday. Federal contract. Pitcher of the Chicago National League Club He was playing first base when a ball thrown to that base struck him in the temple, stun Philadelphia Also Enters Suits ning him. Yesterday he complained of severe CHICAGO, Ills., April 14. William F. pains in his head. Death was caused by the Baker, president of the Philadelphia National bursting of a blood vessel in the boy©s fore League Base Ball Club, who recently defeated head. Federal League magnates in a suit for the services of catcher William Killifer, an Lou Criger Seriously 111 nounced last night that he had begun an ac-, ELKHART, Ind., April 15. Lou Criger, lion for $25,000 damages against Federal for many years rated as one of the best catch League officials. In particular he named ers in the major leagues, is seriously ill at President James A. Gilmore, Robert B. Ward the home of his sister here and no hope is snd Walter S. Ward, the owners of the held out for his recovery. Criger attained his Brooklyn Feds, and Charles Weeghman, W. M. greatest fame as the battery mate of Cy Walker and Manager Joe Tinker, of the Chi , Young when both were members of Jimmy cago Federals. In addition to this suit, in Collins© championship Boston team. which he alleges conspiracy on the part of irtually single-handed, put the Cubs into tha race last year. the independent promoters, Mr. Baker said American Association Opening .another action has been brought in equity to restrain the above named defendants from CHICAGO, Ills., April \5. In the opening interfering in any way with Mr. Baker©s busi games of the American Association champion* ness or meddling with any of tho players of Wharton Pepper and Samuel M. Clement, Jr., dled Philadelphia©s defense of the Killifer ship season yesterday, Kansas City defeated his club. These two suits were instituted of Philadelphia, acted with Horace K. Ten- case at Grand Rapids, Mich., recently. The Minneapolis, 6-3; Milwaukee beat St. Paul, yesterday in the United States District Court. By, of Chicago, as attorneys for the Philadel suits which were begun yesterday in Illinois 4-0; Indianapolis defeated Cleveland, 5-0; and •Cor the Northern District of Illinois. George phia National League Club. Mr. Pepper han have direct reference to pitcher Tom Seaton, rain prevented the Columbus-Louisville game. SPORTING LIFE APRIL 18, 1914 FRANCIS C. EICHTEK, EDITOR THOMAS D. RICHTBB, ASSISTANT EDITOR Was a Two-Edged Sword ocarried out his agreements with the Philadelr from the , one upon which Judge Sessions TC DECISION IN THE KILLIFER CASE phia Club in honesty and good faith? made a ruling, August Herrmariri, chairman THE CANTILLONS* WELL- "Killifer expected to derive a benefit and of the National Commission, issued the fol CUTS BOTH WAYS a profit from their contract, and both knew lowing statement at Cincinnati on Saturday: CONCEIVED SCHEME that such contract, if performed, would work "I am of the opinion that the decision sustains the a serious injury to the Philadelphia Club. methods under which National Agreement base ball is The conduct of both is not only open to criti conducted. Judge Sessions holds that the ©1.914 con Both Parties to the Litigation By cism and censure, but is tainted with un tracts with ball players are ©in form valid and bind Complete Details {or the Establish fairness and injustice, if not with actionable ing on both parties.© The court in severely scoring the fraud. player for violating his contractual and moral obliga Organized Ball and Federals © ©To drive a shrewd bargain is one thing tions to the Philadelphia Club condemns the parties ment of a Permanent Retreat and to resort to unfair and unjust practices who tempted him to be disloyal. It is true that the reserve clause in the player©s 1913 contract is declared Profess to Be Satisfied With and methods in order to obtain an advantage invalid because it is uncertain and indefinite with re for Disabled and Unfortunate over a business rival or competitor is an spect to salary conditions of his proposed employment What Is Disastrous to Base Ball other. Courts of equity may protect and and therefore lacking in tho essential elements of the Base Ball Players in Future* enforce the former, but will not sanction or contract. lend their aid to the latter. While it is true "This ruling Is not In the nature of a surprise to that the plaintiffs and Mr. Killifer have en my associates and myself for the reason that the de GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 10. tered into a legal and binding contract for fects pointed out by Judge Sessions have been remedied BY FRANK E. FORD. Judge Clarence W. Sessions, in the the breach of which the one may be compelled in our 1914 contract. The judge©s comment ©that he MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., April IS, United States District Court today, de to respond in damages to the other, it is who comes into a court of equity must come with clean also true that, because both have acted wrong hands.© serves a notice on all parties that a disregard Editor "Sporting Life." If plans now be nied the application of the of the moral or contractual obligations of a player to ing formulated by Joe and Mike Cantil Chicago Federal League fully and in bad faith a court of equity will his club will not be permitted.