The Washington critic., 1888-08-16
PITCHER wIDNER,S CASE.
The New Orleans 1sau Clubs Determined
to push Thfnve


ayes wo arc going to push our case against
Widner for all it's WORTH" aid Lawyer Saf-
ford, the attorney for the Now Orleans Base
ball Club in their suit for an Injunction to
prevent Widner's playing with the home ag-
grcgaton, TO q CRITIC reporter this morning.
1--WE have filed our amended bill, and the case
comes up on Monday. did not think myself
that the bill needed 20 be amended, but Justice
Mcrlick, who does not understand the game,
thought the original bill was deficient In not
setting forth what Widner's services were
This is unnecessary In a case Of this kind, and
the courts decided IL so fifty years ago Wild
ners was what might be called negative con
tract, and not only stipulated the work Wild
ner was to do, but also that he should not
work for anyone else unti his contract with
New Orleans expired on the Both of next
month His not doing any work for the New
Orleans Club did not affect the contract In any
way.
"For instance, suppose am running news
paper and hire you as an expert Journalist.
/ have all the meu | want, but hire you so
that no one else will get you. Aud though
you may sit on chair all day long and not do
bit Of work, the contract is none the less
binding. still we amended our bill, incorpo-
rating In IT description OF the game OF base
ball and explaining that the pitcher is n very
important member Of the club, and that his
services were very valuable to the New Or
leans Club. There was an exactly similar case
before Justice Mcrrick somc time ago, and he
granted the injunction. A man named
Setback, or something like that contracted
with the Beritz School Of Languages TO teach
In that school, and In no other located In city
in which the Berltz people had a school. The
Justice cnjoined the teacher and the CAGE is
still in the Supreme Court.
"Of course the Washington peoples sympa-
thies are with Widnor and the home club; but
fNaIr hat hos aNs - ls.t1N
would admit that II is Of more importance for
the good of the game that the reckless steal
ing of men should be stopped than that any
one club should get or loose single player.
The standard Of the game should be kept up
"Widner's contract was with the New Or
leans club and not with the Southern League.
IL binds Widner to abide by the rules of the
Southern League; but bis contract was not
with the League but with the club. He was
only to be governed by the Leagues rules as to
fines, and things Of that sort.
"The New Orleans Club does not expect to
gain anything by this suit, but they feel sore.
II they should get a verdict for d thousand
dollars against Widner or the home club it
would not be worth anything. / would
rather have ticket to this afternoons game.
But the New Orleans people are naturally ag-
grieved at the way Mr.. Ted Sullivan got
Widner. He went down there and paid for
Fullers release. While he was negotiating
WIN oneh ioi uher' anu huey tnouSnI cVory-
thing was fair and open and were off their
guard, he runs of with Widner and gets two
men for the price OF one.
"When they awoke to this fact they were
naturally mad, and now they are kicking. or
course they have no use for Widner now, IL he
won't play ball for them, but they do not
intend to submit to being imposed upon"
The case is attracting much attention in
baseball circles, because the yexed question of
the validity of players contracts and releases
bids fair to be decided by law court
If Justice Merrick decides against the home
club the games that other clubs have lost to
Washington when Widner played will be pro.
tested, and the board of arbtration's decisions
will undoubtedly follow tho COURTS,