The Jersey City news., 1906-05-07
TEN THOUSAND
DISGUSTED FANS
West Side Park Crowded
Yesterday to See the Base
ball Game That Wasn't
Played
POLICE STOPPED THE FUN

ONE lN1N1NI w I1b&N i1AC A<->D
CAME-TEsT CASE TO BE
TRIED
Ten thousand disgusted local baseball
fans left West Side Park yesterday after
lhe game arranged between the Jersey
City and the Buffalo teams had been
stopped by the police. The latter alNw-
ed each team to play one inning, in or
der to get evidence for test case on
local Sunday baseball playing in the
courts. That sentiment is largely in ia
vor of Sunday playing was evidenced by
the great crowd of fans that filled the
grand-stand and the bleachers 1t was
a well-dressed crowd and almost as or
derby as church congregation The
fans knew that something was up when
they saw a detail of fifty policemen and
eight mounted men, with Chief Murphy,
CAPTAIN Nugent, Captain Cummins and
the entire detective force on the grounds.
Each man had been instructed just what
to do. The police made their appear
ance as the gates Of the grounds were
opened. -Sergeants Bennett
and Conner had purchased admission
tickets. Chief Murphy notified the man
agement that the game would not be al
lowed to go on. Ticket selling was then
stopped and great crowds flowed through
the gates free of admission. They had
their money ready but none was taken.
Most of the fans had the idea that sew
eral arrests would be made and that the
game would then be allowed to proceed.
And they waited for quite while after
the arrests had been made to watch de-
velopments. The Jersey City team had
scored four runs in the inning it played,
had shut out Buffalo in its half of the
inning and had taken their places in the
field when Chief Murphy, in accordance
with the police arrangements. blew call
whistle. The Chief was standing over
near the entrance for vehicles, where the
mounted policemen were. At this signal
the police took possession of the dia-
lnond. The mounted policemen lined up
back of the Chief looked as though they
were ready to make a cavalry charge
Several detectives marched out on the
diamond and arrested Pitcher Eugene
MeCann. Frank Carroll, a local fan, who
was umpiring the game, and Catcher
yandergrift. Ticket-seller John ]. Nc
Crafty was also placed under arrest.
Detective-Sergeants Pearson and Gal
Iagher had been instructed to watch
Pitcher MeCann, count the number of
balls that he pitched and the number of
opposing players who struck at them.
Meanwhile Detectiyes-Sergeants Noble
and Blackshaw were watching the move
ments of Catcher Vandergrift and De
tectives-Sergeants Larkins and Lee were
listening to what the umpire said. The
arrests were made quietly, although
storm Of Kisses emanated from the fans,
and yet when Chief Murphy had occa-
sion to cross and recross the sward he
was generally applauded. The prisoners
after putting on their street clothes were
taken to the Fifth Precinct station house
in Ocean avenue, where they were locked
up on a charge of violating the Vice and
immortality act. Former Freeholder
James J. Kelly, stockholder in the local
club, was on hand to give bail for each
for his appearance before Police JUS
tice Manning in the Second Criminal
Court this morning. The bonds were ac-
cepted by Justice of the Peace Collins.
Pastor William C. O'Donnell, of the
West Side Methodist church, and Will
liam H. Beach, a member of that church,
and president of the LayInen's Associa-
tion, both of whom are leading spirits in
the opposition to Sunday base ball play
ing, were interviewed after the game had
been stopped. They expressed pleasure
at the new, as they had taken no legs<
action to stop the game after receiving
the promise of Mayor Pagan and Chief
of Police Murphy that the game would
be stopped. Both said that if the sun
day games are allowed to go on they
will resort to legal measures to prevent
them. Pastor O'Donnell said that by
force Of circumstances the West Side
church had been obliged to bear the brunt
Of the battle against Sunday playing, but
that he had received assurances from
many other churches and religious So
cietiss il the eity that if financial help