Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-21
4 KNOTTY PROBLEM,
lawyers Try to Solve What
the National League Is.
lECKER'S CASE A PUZZLER.
anager Phillips Says the League is
3 a Myth.
SOME SENSATIONAL QUESTIONS.
Mitchell, the Ball Player, Wrongly Ar.
rested for Robbery.
DECKER'S CASE A PUZZLER.
SOME SENSATIONAL QUESTIONS.
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS OF THE DAY

The ouestion of ''whafis the National
Baseball League?" caused considerable
forensic eloquence and argument yesterday
in Common Pleas Court No. 1. The query,
which at first sight appears easy to answer,
puzzled all the limbs of the law who
essaved to solve it and probably the solu-
tion is now surrounded W with more mystery
than it ever was. The problem was the
main feature of the Decker case, well known
to all baseball patrons. Mr.. Decker, 1t
will be remembered, was League umpire
during the early part of last season. he was
discharged by President Young and conse-
oueutlv sued the National League for the bal
ance of his salary for the year. Through MS
attorney. Mr.. John d. Watson, writs were
served on John L Rogers and President n. Z.
Young, as directors of the League. The League
attorney, Mr. Scott Ferguson, put in de-
murrer claiming that the service wasn't legal
because the League was not defined.
Yesterday arguments for and against the de-
uurrer were heard by Judges Stowe and Slagle,,
and as a result there were many interesting
things said about the legal and moral status OF
the National League. Mr.. Watson, though
young lawyer,
REALLY HELD HIS OWN
on the ouestion against such an expert lawyer
as Mr.. Scott Ferguson. The former displayed
remarkable knowledge concerning the law
and professional baseball clubs and his argu-
ments would doubtless have delighted the
PLAYERS Brotherhood. He held the attention
of the Court from beginning to end of his argu-
ment and finally scored good point.
Mr.. Ferguson briefly opened the case by
stating WHY the demurrer should prevail. In
substance he eontended that the service was
not by any means legal, inasmuch as it had not
defined or specified who or what the Natio nal
League is. In other words the plaintiff had not
definitely pointed out who the defendant was.
Then commenced the argument as to what
is the League" The Court asked Mt. Fergu-
son to define the League, and he replied:
ut is an association of corporation and part
nership clubs"
Evidently believing that this was not sufi-
cient he added: II really don't know what it is
myself"
Mr.. Watson contended that if it was corpo-
ration il had no legal right to exist in Pennsyl-
yania. There was no law by which it could be
chartered as professional baseball organiza-
ton. 1t stood. in relation to the law, the same
as did corporations for cable car lines before
special act was passed allowing them to be
chartered. The League, he contended, was
not registered according to the req ulrenents
of the. act of 1851 Mr.. Watson further con-
tended thar the act of 1906 allowed the service
on Messrs. Young and Rogers, as the writ was
issued in the name of the Commonwealth. He
was also asked to define the League, and he re-
piled:
A STRONG DEFINITION.
'What is the League? I'll tell you what it
is 1t is party of men banded together who
buy and sell human beings like stock. This
party of men own these players and make con-
test against each other just as men owning
roosters make them attack each other in
cock pit"
After more arguing of a spirited kind the
Court intmated that the service was detective
because the League had not been clearly defined.
The Court however. stated that the case would
not be dismissed. Messrs. Rogers and Young
will be held as agents of the League until the
matter is further considered. 1t was under.
stood that Mr.. Ferguson will in the meantime
be expected to instruct Mr.. Watson as to what
the League is. or who the legal defendants
really are so that better writ will be served.
Last evening Attorney Watson was satisfied
that the legal standing of the National League
in this State has been etfectualy assalled- he
felt confident that if the League is not defined
something will be done to make its agent re-
spUnsible. The fact that the Court still holds
Messrs. Young and Rogers seems TO give force
10 this opinion. 1t seems reasonable to ex-
pect that there must be responsibility some
where However, the case promises to be a
sensational one, as Mr.. Watson means to use
every legal device at command TO test 1t
thoroughly. 1t is the first time on record that
the League has been asSailed in any such way.
If the Court finally non-suits the plaintiff in
the present instance writ will be served on
President Nimick as 'ian agent of the League.
At any rate. Attorney Watson claims that
there are many methods available to test the
case. 81 have an idea," he said, ''that we will
become stockholders in the League before
long because / am persuaded that we will be
enabled by law to attach some of the stock Of
Messrs. Rogers, Young Nimick or Day.
II NAV be remarked that the legal contest is
not now SO much a contest to obtain Mr..
Decker's arrears of salary as it is TO prove
what the League is. Mr.. Watson is determined
to have this solved, and many good people are
behind him.