The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-06
A WARRANT FOR LEIDY
Sent Money and Tickets to Pitcher
Smith and to Atz.
NO GAMES IN CAROLINA YESTERDAY
The Rain PeItd Down in Raleigh While Over
in Tarboro They Gave it Up After
Playing But Three
Innings.

Rain prevented the ball game here yes
terday between Charlotte and Raleigh.
But there was enough excitement in
sence from the diamond.
A whisper in the early hours grew into
full voiced declarations later that Pitcher
Frank Smith and Third Baseman Jakey
Atz, of the Red Birds, were preparing to
skip out on the first train.
Their destination, it was said, was
Birmingham, Alabama, where they were
to make the Birmingham ball club the
invincible CD team of the Southern
League. The wonders of their ball play
ing had reached the Birmingham folks
and they could not be happy till they
got them.
Last week, it will be remembered
George o. Leiday, the captain of the Bir-
mingham team, was in Raleigh. He said
he was only stopping over on his way
North but later events prove that he
was here to elope with two of Raleigh's S
ball team. The fate of Barley Kahn, of
Darlington, whose $l00 in cash as bond
for his appearance at the next term of
court now abides in Raleigh.
Leidy concluded that the way to do
business was at long range, so he hied
him away, presumably to Birmingham.
The three tickets ordered by wire from
Birmingham to be turned over to him here
were cancelled and with the cash in hand
Leidy fixed on Greensboro as a place of
deposit and ticket buying.
Smith and Atz, so goes the story. in
response to kilograms wired Leidy that
they would come to him for $50 apiece in
cash and their tickets. In response
Leidy telegraphed that S75 and two tickets
had been placed in Greensboro for them.
The news of this deal and the possible
presence of Leidy in Greensboro reached
the club Officials here.
Immediate action was taken and a war
rant was sworn out for the arrest OF
Leidy for enticing the players to leave.
Captain Geo. w. Kelly was appointed a
constable to serve the warrant and he left
here on the afternon train for Greensboro.
1t was expected that Smith would go on
the same train, but he did not do so and
Atz seemed to be undecided as to whether
or not he would jump the Raleigh team.
But Leidy was not to be found in
Greensboro. After 8 o'clock last night
telegram was received from Captain Kelly
which said: MET sheriff. Can't find
Leidy. Dent think he has been here
This information fitted in with the state
ment made to representative of this
paper that Leidy left here with
through ticket to Birmingham.
But before the telegram come from
Capt. Kelly, the News and Observer cor
respondent at Greensboro had wired as
follows:
Seventy five dollars and tickets from
Greensboro to Birmingham here for Atz
and Smith. Kelly arrived this evening
with warrant for Leidy who has not
been located. Kelly thinks Leidy prob
ably has an representative here. Officers
have made a thorough search of the town
and can find no trace of the birmingham,
captain.
Frank Smith was seen last night. In
reply to the direct question, What are
you going to do?" he said: I'm going
home in the morning. / thought / would
go tonight but l have changed my mind.
I'm not going to Birmingham. Parties
who have talked with Atz say that he
says that he has never told Leidy or any
one that he would leave Raleigh.
Roth poleigh and Birmingham are in
leagues protected by the National League,
and even if Smith and Atz are secured
by Birmingham by the dark lantern, un-
sportsmanlike methods that have been
used it will be impossible to use the men.
In baseball circles the conduct of the
Birmingham captain is termed dirty"
and it is lucky for him that he is out
of the range of the warrant in Captain
kelly's hands.
Raleigh has had offers for. some of
its players from Southern League cities.
Among the men wanted were Smith and
Atz for whom, with other players, fair
price was offered 1t is probable, there
fcre, that if Smith and Atz play in the
Southern League that it will be in city
selected by Raleigh, most presumably
Selma G
The action of Smith and Atz in break
ing faith with the Raleigh team was the
source OF much unfavorable comment last
night and the consensus of opinion was
that If the men had acted so badly it
would be the best thing to let them CO.
II is recognized by every ball player in
the State that no team has had better
treatment than has the Red Birds, and
this poor return from two of the men is
regarded as unworthy of the treatment
accorded them.
The plans of Smith and Atz will prob
ably reach a elimination today. 1t is
hoped that the club officials will take
matters in their own hands and deal
with the men in no undecided manner. The
people OF Raleigh want manly men to play