The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-07
W.H. Ragland Temporarily
 EljOined. MIR. ROBERTSON FILES-BLL Declares AffairS0f Association Were Mismanaged. Light Thrown Upon Transactions of Two Street Railroad Compan-
 ies and Contract for
 Games.

WIltten yesterday when petition Tor a writ of injunction against the playing of baseball :n Montgomery under the con- trol of w. H. Ragland was filed in the Chancery Court by W. T. Robertson, a stockholder in the Montgomery Baseball Association and director of the Mont gomery Traction Company In the bill applying for the injunction. sensational allegations are made in ref erence to the financial management of the Baseball Association by MT. Ragland. The writ was served on MT. Ragland. William s. Stickney. Manager of the Montgomery Baseball Club and the Mont gomery Baseball Association.
 It will be remembered that the South ern League franchise for Montgomery was first granted to w. H. Ragland. l Shortly afterwards a stock company was organized and incorporated under the ti- | tie of the Montgomery Baseball Associa- | tion with w. w. Screws. Jr., as Presi- dent and W. H. Ragland, as Secretary and Treasurer.
 It was commonly supposed that MT. Ragland was the owner of controlling interest of the stock At the close of the 198 season, 1t was given out through the press that large sum of money had been cleared by the Association. MT. Robertson. in his petition. ayers that all | though he repeatedly asked MT. Ragland to make a statement of the financial con- dition of the club to the stockholders. Mir. Ragland has failed to do so.
 Street Railway Signs Check. A few weeks ago meeting of a num- Der of the Directors of the Baseball As sociation was held and it was afterwards given out that the Association had dis banded and that the franchise and all property had been transferred to anoth- | a,-A. rrtno do tt- lie. MT. Robertson, in his bill. ayers that the check representing money for which the franchise was sold. was signed by the Montgomery Street Railway of which Mir. Ragland is Vice President.
 The Montgomery Baseball Association made five year contract with the Nont- gomery Traction Company to play the games at Athletic Park on the line of that company. At that time W. H. Rag land was President and General Mana ger of the Traction Company. Last win the Montgomery Street Railway as its yice-President. The Advertiser at this time announced the probability that baseball would be played at Oak Park and this statement was denied.
 Immediately after the sale of the fran ehise 1t was announced that the games would be played at Oak Park on the line
 
 Allegations of the Bill. The bill flied by Mfr. Robertson ayers that after the organization of the Mont somery Baseball Association, Mir. Rag land had issued to himself and received from the Baseball Association, large number of shares of stock. to wit. 207 shares. of the par value of $25 per share. for and in consideration of his transfer or agreement to transfer. assign and de- liver to the Baseball Association a fran chise in the Southern League Of Baseball Clubs. together with a transfer to the Association of all his claims for money prior to that time advanced or paid by him in procuring the franchise and in put ting up with the President or other prop CT officer of the Southern League. the amount required. under the league rules. as a guarantee find. and for certain other proposes, together with amounts advanced to ball players, who had been employed by the local Baseball Association.
 The petitioner MT. Robertson, ayers that he had subscribed and paid for in cash four shares of the capital stock and he ayers he is still the owner of the same.
 The bill goes on to allege that during the season of 1903. under the management of Lew Whistler. the team of the Mont somery Baseball Association, played many games of ball to all of which an admission fee was charged that num- her of players were contracted with and on many of these the local Baseball As sociation has hold for their services in 1904. an dthis hold is of value to the As sociation.
 Property of Association. r Further 1t is alleged that during the season of 1903 the Association owned and had interests In S1, 200 deposited with the Treasurer of the Southern League and that the Association owned the franchise 1 which is of great value, to wit, $4,o00, The | Association also owns articles of smaller value basebahs. bats, uniforms and few other articles of small value This con- stituted all the assets of the Association except the interest which 1t has in the money deposited with the southern League.
 The orator further ayers that the Mont gomery Baseball Association. prior to March l. entered into a contract with William s.. Stickney to manage the team of hall players for 1904 and that nearly all players have reported to him and that at least six games have heen played by them for which an admission fee was charged.
 The petition sets forth that Mir. Rob ertson is reliably informed that there
  of the Associatio and that a sale was made of the franchise of the club to w. H. Ragland together with all the proper ties and assets of the Association.
 Not Invited to Meeting.
 The orator says he is further informed that a meeting of the stockholders of the Association was held 10 ratify the action of the Board of Directors and although he is a stockholder, he was given no mo- tice of the meeting until after 1t had oc- cured and the stockholders had ratified the sale or attempted sale of the fran chise The orator is informed that Tor the properties and assets of the Associa- tion. a certified check was displayed on some Montgomery bank signed by the Montgomery Street Railway. The orator ayers that he has never assented to or ratified the action of the Board of Direc- tors or the stockholders.
 He further ayers that he has made re- peated attempts to see the records of the Montgomery Baseball Association but has been repeatedly denied access to them
 The bill alleges that at each of the games played in 1904 large sums of money were taken in. which rightfully should belong to the Montgomery Baseball As- sociation and he. as a minority stock holder, Is entitled to share of the re- 1 tca