The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-28
DIDN'T CARE ID HAVE
 ATTACHMENT SERVED
Suit Against Steinfeldt Pending in Jef- ferson County Court and Officers Were Attempting to Attach
 SaIary-Cubs Were Ugly
By CHARLES FELL

good one, and one which dates back two years to the time when the Chicago Cub: were last in Birmingham putting in some practice against the Barons. It is now learned that Manager Chance was dodg- ing the sheriff, and he was successful.
 When Manager Chance and Secretary Birmingham Wednesday afternoon for Memphis without their team some won derment was expressed, inasmuch as they left without giving any account for their nasty departure. It is even stated that the two men resorted to the fire escape at the Hotel Jefferson to effect their es- cape from the sheriff. They did not even have time to pack their grips and left without their full outfit of wearing ap- parel, wiring for their clothes from Mem phis on the following day.
 The whole thing came out yesterday when Chance told the story irfssMemphis. The story from Memphis, in substance, follows:
 Manager Chance and Secretary Charley Williams had to beat it out of Birming- ham a day ahead of time. They got the tip that an attorney was waiting in the sherifs office, so that they hiked. The attorney was waiting for the sheriff to come. unlock the safe and hand over papers to be served on Williams and Chance, attaching Harry Steinfeldts sal ary. Chance blew at once for the depot and caught a train. Williams walked around the outskirts of town, not daring to go near the hotel, and at 2 o'clock in the afternoon grabbed a fiier headed out of Birmingham. They telegraphed for their clothes.''
 l Two years ago when the Cubs were training here the Chicago players showed the same nasty disposition they showed last Thursday and Friday. only in a mag niied form. permitting themselves to go to the extreme of abusing the umpire. They did not stop with unfavorable re- marks about him on the diamond, but one l Harry Steinfeldt resorted to violence and other players made 1t their business to throw their gloves at the ''umps," as well as to shove him about the diamond.
 The umpire was Charles Harris, a young but not inexperienced judge of the game. | The trouble occurred during the last game the Cubs played here in April, 190S It | seems that the Cubs had the Barons beat | until the latter half of the ninth inning, | when Molesworth managed to get a base | and worked his way around to the third bag. The Cub catcher let pitched ball get away from him and Moley scored, tying the game. It seems that he im- media tely ran Into the dressing room after crossing the plate.
 Harry Steinfeldt and Del Howard then proceeded to raise the biggest argument ever pulled off at West End. The wrangle lasted for some Is or 20 minutes the Cubs passing their kick on the contention that Molesworth did not touch home plate. Finally when Moley had ascer- tained the drift of the argument he came out of the dressing room and touched the home plate. When he had done this Um- pire Harris declared the run a legal one, and the Cubs, especially Steinfeldt, were riled.
 The Chicago players gathered about | Harris and pushed the umpire around soandalously. several of them hitting him with their gloved hands. Steinfeldt the ringleader finally walked up to Harris and deliberately stepped on the umpire S foot with his spiked shoes. Harris's foot was injured by the spikes and SteinfeY1t was finally elected from the grounds by the Eiyton police. Del Howard, the other rough house Specialist, was allowed to re- | main on the grounds
 The next day Harris filed suit against Steinfeldt and Howard, sweeking dam ages in the sum of 5000 from each of the players. The court papers were served on Howard at the Hotel Hllman, but | Stefnfeldt got wise to what was going on and he made a noise like a hurry toward the railroad station. And there the foxy player played great joke.
 The officers were unwilling to be out kS1A h.
 they pursued their fugitive. Well, Stein feldt beat them to the station. The depu- ties hunted high and low for their man but he had evidently dissolved himself into a shadow. The truth of the matter was that he had been concealed in a baggage car and when the first outgoing train left Birmingham Steinfeldt left wltf it. much to the satisfaction of the Cubs
 Well, everybody had just about for. gotten about the whole affair when thu Cubs drifted back through Birmingham for little more practice under the shad
 ow of the slag pile, and, by the way
 they indulged in the same old tactics O
 bluff and kicking which caused so mucl
 unfavorable comment regarding them two years ago.
 But after the Cub team had been herr
 only few hours Manager Chance blew
 hurriedly and mysteriously
 He was as wise as Steinfeldt and som
 good and faithful friend informed hin
 that the sheriff was after him to attacl
 steinfeldt's salary to secure the damag
 suit which was filed by Harris two year
 ago against the Chicago player Con
 sequently Chance stole away from tn
 city for Memphis. after getting word t
 Secretary Williams who had a harde
 time making his exit than did Chance , But they got away and it is hardly prob able that they will return at any earl
 date.
 The question that remains is whethe
 the fans care If Chance and his crow returns or not.
 2 And the narrow escape of Umpire Scot ! Chestnut is not to be overlooked. Umpire Chestnut very probably mad some incorrect decisions. If he wer capable of making perfect decisions al ways he would most likely go into tn /, umpire business. As 1t was. Hofmar acting manager, agreed to have Chest ? nut act as umpire. Scotty handed tn 2 Barons the rough end in number ( e his decisions, but neither the Baron play CTS nor the fans doubted that he wa z honest On the other hand, they took 5 all good -naturedly, laughed about it a f and said nothing disagreeable or offer Q sive to the umpire.
 II The Cub players, however. and Hofma y especially, were found dicking strenuous e ly on every opportunity. Their demeano e Twas exceedingly ugly, and had they hant
 led Mir. Chestnut like they treated Hal ris two years ago the fans would prol Ie ably have been but slightly surprises The Cubs, from all appearances, scene