Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-02
A BASE BALL CANARD.
Reported Sale of the Cleveland
Franchise.

CLEVELAND, Ohio, June "A story to
the effect that the Cleveland Base Ball
Club had sold its franchise and that the
players were to be divided up between
Brooklyn and Indianapolis Is circulated
here. 1t was news at the office Of Fresi-
dent Robson.
Both President Robson and Secretary
Howard Robson are out of the city, said
the assistant secretary of the club, but
no such movement has been contem-
plated. so far as 1 know, and I think 1
should hear of it about as soon as any one''
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
CLEV ELAND, Ohio June "a story is
published here today that the owners of
the Cleveland Base Ball Club have sold the
franchise and players to John T. Brush
and John Byrne of Brooklyn and a Boston
capitalist, whose name Is withheld. The
transaction Is said to have been made in
Boston yesterday, and the consideration Is
100000, according to the story current here.
The only point Of difference between the
contracting parties was the important mat
ter of the considera ton. The magnates had
been negotiating for several days, and the
figure offered was $4,000. but this was re-
fused. Mr.. Robson is reported to have
answered that not one cent less than
100000 would be taken for the team. This
latter sum was finally agreed to.
1t is the intention to place the better part
of the team, including Tebeau, Mexican
and Childs of the infield, all the pitchers
and catchers and Burkett, and possibly
McAleer, In Brooklyn, the remainder, with
the bulk of the Brooklyn team, being trans
ferred, together with the Cleveland fran
chse, to Indianapolis, the Indianapolis
Western League team being transferred to
Omaha The reason for placing the Cleve-
land team at Brooklyn is obvious.
With such team playing across the
bridge from New York. with a poor team
in the latter city, the bulk of the base ball
patronage of the two cities would go to
Brooklyn.
Mr.. Robson Is in New York today. but at
his office there is no knowledge of the
transaction. At the home of George Howe
who is a league stockhoder In the Cleye-
land Base Ball Company, it was learned
that Mr.. Howe was in Boston.
The Sale Denied.
Secretary ]. Howard Robson was seen
by Star reporter at the Ebbitt House to-
day, and he declared in no uncertain Ian
guage that the reported sale bore not the
semblance of authenticity or truth Cap
tain Tebeau of the Cleveland club also as
sured the reporter that SO far as he knew
there Is absolutely no truth in the report
President Young Of the National League
was apparently surprised when Informed
| by the reporter this afternoon of the re-
ported sale Of the Cleveland franchise.
Il would probably be the first per-
son to be Informed regarding such q
DEAL" said President Young, "and 1. as
sure you most emphatically that have moi
heard a word relating to the subject Just
| moment ago l was conversing with Sec.
| retary ]. Howard Robson of the Cleveland
| club by telephone, and he did not refer tc
| the matter. I consider the story sent out
| from Cleveland to be fake, pure ans
| simple, just as much so as have been al
| the stories published during .he past few
months in which Cleveland and Indianap
| oils have been prominently mentioned.
"Of course, I believe MIR. Robson would
| sell his franchise, as would any club owner
| in the league, but l assure you his figure
| Is high. There Is one chance in 10000 tha
| the Cleveland club might be sold in tn.
| near future, but do not think for an in
| stant that such chance will materialize