The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-12
PRETTY KETTLE OF fish
Base Ball Creditors Scramblina fol
the Sheriff's Sale Proceeds.
QUESTION orNrAANY SIDES
Creditors CIsim to no Frozen Ont" and
Want the Judgment Holders TO Make
Divisions Charges of Fraud
and False Preteuses.

M. H. McDermott yesterday signed a
contract to manage the Scranton Base
Ball club during 1896. That's one thing
new In local base ball, but there's some
thing else new. that will create more
talk than the signing of new manager.
Ben Cusick, a North End saloOnkeeper,
and stockholder in the defunct asso-
citation, has openly made the charge or
fraud and false pretenses in connection
with the recent sheriff's sale and has
given his case in charge of Attorneys
O'Brien & Kelly. One Of the judgment
creditors, Edward Coleman, and possi-
bly, p. p. Jordan. like Coleman, an ex-
director. have taken sides with Cusicx;
w. A. st. John, another stOckhOlder,
also can be classed with them and there
are several outside creditors urging the
saloonkeeper to push his case.
The signing Of McDermott as man.
ager can be briefly told: He met Harry
p. Simpson, the new owner OF the fran
chise, in the latter's Office at 9 o'clock
yesterday ;nornig. The details of what
transpired are not known, but in thirty
minutes McDermOtt had signed a
Scranton contract and went to the st.
Charles hotel. where he paid his bill
and Immediately took the $50 Lacka-
wanna train for New York. He will
return here for few days during De-
cember and after an explicit under
standing of his employers wishes will
return to Fail River, which will be his
headquarters during the winter. In
the spring he will come here to reside,
and 1t is expected that in the mean
while he will have secured batch of
players from among whom the team
will be chosen.
Ont Ono Hundred and Fifty Dollars.
Saloonkeeper Cusick's complaint is
that he has been mulcted out of $3.50.
which represents two sums advanced
by him during the early season to help
tide the waning fortunes of the old as
ISOLATION over spell of financial dis
tress. He claims there was no proper
formal action taken in regular direc-
tors meeting preliminary to the pro-
ceedirgs and judgments Of seven direc-
tors which caused the sheriff's sale. He
says 1t Is a case of freezing MIN out"
along with w. A. st. John, who is
minus $l09 paid for lumber and carpen-
ter work; Reese & Long, who performed
the base ball bill posting; Fred. Schoep,
who has bill for printing, and a num-
ber Of creditors Of the small-fry variety
But there is another and a serious
phase to the controversy. Yesterday
one of the frozen out" creditors told
a Tribune reporter that for over a year
there has been no accounting of
moneys received for the rental of the
park, or for other financial transac-
tions not Immediately connected with
the club, and its games during the
season. The Tribunes informant inti-
mated there might be trouble on this
account
1t is not known what steps will be
taken by O'Brien & Kelly in Stock
holder Cusick's interest. Mr.. Simpson,
the new owner. Is in no wise involved,
excepting the possibility of losing the
franchise and having his purchase
money returned in case the sheriff's
sale Is found to be irregular. He now
and Will get deed on Thursday, the
stated day for acknowledging sher-
IFS deeds.
What Director Coleman Says.
Director Coleman said to Tribune
reporter last night, when the decision
was reached among us seven directors
to secure judgments, there was no un-
derstanding or agreement to share the
proceeds Of the sale with the outside
creditors. Nevertheless, 1 do not think
1t just, in view of what later trans
pired. to keep them from sharing with
US. Something should be done. Twas
at the sale and know that President
Belts was offered $1,000 for the property
by Morris Davidow and Alex Dunn,
but the offer was refused and every
thing was allowed to go for So, 1870, at
which price President Belts sold to Mr..
Simpson"
Several days ago Mr.. Belts explained
his refusal to sell for $4,000 by the as
sertion that Mr.. Davidow and Mr.
Dunn would have bid the property up
to near that figure and then with
draw from the bidding, thus forcing
the fees Of the sheriff nearly hundred
dollars higher.