Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-09
Won DER AHE KIDNAPPED,
Base Ball Magnate Brought from St.
Louis to Pi,tsburg.

Plttsburg, Feb S.-Chris Won der Abe
arrived at the Allegheny county jail to-
night in the custody of Detective Bend
ell. The party was met at the jail by
United States authorities, who produced
habeas corpus papers issued by Judge
Burlington and claimed the prisoner.
Marshal Gamble took charge of Mr..
Won der Abe. J. Scott Ferguson, his
attorney, then signed bail bond for
$500, which released the magnate until
tomorrow al 10 O'clock, when a hear
Ing in the habeas corpus proceedings
viii pe mad,
Won Der Ahe's attorney says the ar
rest Of his client was clearly illegal, and
that he will go back to st. Louis tomor-
row under protection and not in GUS
tody.
Mr.. Won Der Abe was nervous, and
plainly showed marks of travel His
clothing was disarranged, and buttons
We're torn from his coat and vest He
is very indignant at the manner in
which he was captured, and the subse-
quent treatment, and says he will fight
the case through to the end.
How Won der Abe was arrested and
brought to Pittsburg is related in a St.
Louis dispatch published this morning
Chris Won der Abe, the base ball
magnate, was taken into custody here
last evening by a Pittsburg detective.
The most unique character in the sport
ing world was really kidnapped and is
now on his way to the smoky city, where
his body may be held for an indefinite
period on a judgment given by the
courts in the suit brought "by Mark E.
Baldwin, the base ball pitcher.
fdT1o
Tor 1t is such in the true meaning of the
word, will no doubt create a big sensa-
tion' He was decoyed into the st. Mich
olas Hotel, where he was hustled into
the carriage, after being shown the bail
piece carried by Detective Nicholas Ben
del. The carriage was driven aimlessly
until 1t was time to board a train for the
east.
Then he was showed into it and is
now on his way to Pittsburg, where he
will either have to make good the judg-
ment Of $2500 rendered against him in
the Baldwin case or remain In jail until
such time as William A. Nimick who
was on his bond when he was first ar
rested on the charge preferred by Pitch
er Baldwin was made, is satisfied"
The arrest was made at the instiga-
ton of w. A. Nimick, former president
Of the Pittsburg Base Ball Club, who
latter was arrested ein this city on the
charge preferred by pitcher Mark Bald
win. The litigation between Baldwin
and Won der Abe was commenced in
1891 and grew out of a dispute between
the National League and American AS
sociation.
Baldwin was connected with the Pitts
burg League Club and Won der Abe was
president Of the st. Louis Association
Club. The former went to st. Louis to
secure Pitcher King, and was arrested
on a charge Of conspiracy preferred by
Won der Abe. When the case was tried
Baldwin was discharged. He then
brought suit against Won der Abe for
malicious prosecution, and asked for
$4,000 damages. Won der Abe was ar
rested in Pittsburg, and Nimick became
his surety. The case was tried twice and
verdicts given both times for $2500
Won der Abe appealed to the supreme
court, but the lower court was sus-
tained. As nothing was secured on an
execution issued against Won der Abe,
and the sheriff made a return that the
defendant could not be found in the
county, his bondsman, Nimick, decided
to have him brought to this city to fore
stall proceedings for recovery of the
bond.
If he is surrendered by his bonds
man in Plttsburg and fails to pay the
! amount of the verdict against him with
| interest and costs, he can be placed in
| Jail He would have to stay there fol-
sixty days before he could apply to the
court for his release under the insolVent
| law. 1t would then rest with the court
! whether or not he would be released.