Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-16
National League Record.
FILED THEIR ANSWER.
Directors of the Local n. L. Club State
Why They Won't Pay MIR. Pratt.

directors oil tne LOCal Ne CluD Stdte
Why They Won't Pay Mr.. Pratt.
Secretary AL Scandrett, of the local National
League baseball club. yesterday filed an afh-
davit in court in behalf of the club IN answer
ito the suit of A. G. Pratt d Co., who are suing
the club for a debt of $40 The affidavit chiefly
aims at showing that the club is limited part
nership, and, therefore, no director or stock
holder can be sued individually for debt; in
other words, an effort is made to shirk the debt
by trying to show that Mr. Pratt has not pro-
ceeded in the legal way to collect 1t.
But the affidavit goes further, and states that
Mr.. Pratt is, and has been. in full knowledge
OF the fact that the club was chartered as a
limited partnership under the name of the
Pittsburg Athletic Club There is another ex'
ceedingly interesting feature in the affidavit,
viz: 1t shows that Mr.. j. P. O'Neil is the only
director who has paid any cash into the club or
partnership" The statement of Secretary
Scandrett credits Mr.. O'Neil with paying
$4,000 cash for one-fourth of the clubs stock
about four years ago. Nobody else is credited
with paying any money into the concern. The
above are the chief features of the affidavit.
Mr.. Pratt and his attorney read the affidavit
when it was filed and had a hearty laugh over
it. A reply to it was prepared and Judgment
will be asked for Saturday. The reply is very
brief and makes the statement that the afida-
Wit is in all points defective. Mr.. Pratt en-
phatically denies that he ever knew the ball
club to do business as the Pittsburg Athletic
Club. Last evening Mr.. Pratt said:
Mr. N1mlck himself came TO my store ana
requested me to allow Manager Hecker to have
anything for the Allegheny Baseball Club.
But certainly have done all my business with
them the Allegheny Baseball Club. The
debt is legitimate, and whether they are lin
tied partnership not it ought to be paid.
The court will get me my money"
Director O'Neil was busily engaged all the
afternoon trying to have the affair settled. He
urged Mr. Pratt to withdraw the suit, assuring
the latter that he would get his money without
any trouble. Mr.. Pratt, however, declined to
withdraw it. During conversation Mr.. O'Neil
said: The present object of Mr.. Nimick in
pushing the case is to find out whether or not
our charter is any good. Mr.. Pratt and his
attorney say it is not. and although it is a
charter for a limited partnership we can be
sued individually. We want to find that out.
But deal of bad temper has caused all this
bother. For some time past Mr.. Converse, Mr..
Brown. Mr.. Nimick and myself have each
been paying $3.50 per week toward paying off
current expenses and old debts of the club.
Mr.. NImick had the distribution of this
money in charge and he has doubtless thought
there were more pressing debts. MI. Pratts
turn would certainly have come"
The general opinion seems to be that it is a
very unwise proceeding on the part of the club
to allow the case to go to court. Every official
of the club admits the debt to be legitimate
and it is hard to understand why they won't
payit.