Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-29
JOHNSON BALkS
AT Killing FINDING
CATCHER PENALlZED, WILL BE
RElNSTATED
AMERICAN LEAGUE PRESIDENT
OPPOSES ACTION
Baseball Magnate Says That for Good
of Organized Sport He viii
Not Submit Minority
Report

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. March
2S.-Catcher Johnny King, formerly
a member of the Chicago National
league baseball club will be penelized
but reinstated in organized baseball
some time next week, but 1t will not
be with the consent of Ban 3. Johnson,
president of the American league. The
report of the findings in the King case
will be signed by Garry Hermann,
chairman of the National baseball
commission, and Thomas j. Lynch,
president of the National league whoi
with Johnson, compose the commission.
For the good of organized baseball,
President Johnson will not submit
minority report, but nevertheless ne
has decided opinions regarding king s
desertion of the game last year. How
ever. he says, Lynch is a new man In
office and if he has made a mistake in
this case, which Johnson believes he
has, it would only harm the national
pastime for him to discuss the Nation
al league presidents alleged error.
President johnson, who is taking the
baths here, requested today that his
name be removed from the report OF
the commission on the King case. II
believe a mistake has been made by
the commission" he said, but shall
offer no criticism of the work or
constitute the majority and whatever
they decide must stand, regardless of
anything / might say.
at is best I remain silent, especial
ly i'm connection with the convictions
of President Lynch. He is new man
in the administrative end of baseball.
have no desire to speak harshly OF
any error he may make at the begin
ming of his ADMINISTRATION.
Favored Severe Penalty
AT no time cinse the King case
came to our attention have / been
able to agree with the other members
of the commission. | held right along
for inflicting a more severe penalty
than they were willing to indorse. He
had several meetings and soon it be-
came apparent that I would never see
the evidence in the same light as they.
Finally the other members of the COM
mission were able to report an agree
ment on what they considered a just
penalty. Their verdict did not coincide
with mine. But / informed them they
might return a majority report and /
would remain silent. ] learned today
my name had been affixed to the Of
fetal report of the proceedings of the
investigation and 1 imediately took
steps to prevent the publication of the
report in this manner. / am willing to
let the case pass without submitting a
minority report, but l could not stand
idly by and permit the use of my name
I'm such a manner as to make 1t appear
that 1 was satisfied with the penalty
assessed"
President johnson firmly refused to
give his opinion regarding the truth of
the statement made by Charles w.
Murphy that he had written King a
letter granting him a leave of alb
sence of one year. Neither would he
say what the decision of the commits
sion was or how he would have penal
lied King had he won his fight in
the hearing.
"The official report of the other MEM
bers of the commission will deal with
these matters" he said. at is not
right that I should discuss their find
ings.'
rs it not true that on account of the
prominence of Killing there was a ten
dancy on the part of the commission
to make an example of his case?"
Johnson was asked.
"Kling's case was taken up in the
same manner as that of any other
player" was the reply.