Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-02-04
JUDGE DECIDES
THREE-EYE CASE
Reports of Ruling of Gridley on
Contempt Proceedings
Vary.
WATERLOO SEEMS WINNER
But Tearney, Kinsella and Litzinger
Are Not in Contempt-NIust
Start New Action.

Chicago. Feb. 4.-The baseball war
in which the Waterloo, Iowa, club is
fighting to retain place in the Three
Eye league, advanced a point and took
on new complications yesterday. Al.
Tearney, president of the league. Rich
ard Kinsella, owner of the Springfield
club, and Attorney htzinger were
found not guilty of violating the i'll
junction obtained by the Waterloo
club, restraining them from prevent
ing Waterloo from voting at any
league meeting while it was a mem
ber.
Judge Gridley, after examining the
league constitution. which says that a
majority of all clubs must be present
TO constitute a quorum, expressed the
belief that the recent meeting at which
Waterloo was ousted was unconstitu-
tional and ruled that Waterloo had
not been affected by the custer vote of
the four members, and that cOnse-
quently the injunction had not been vi
olated. The injunction was not dis
solved. Whether the meeting was un-
constitutional was not before the court
declared Judge Gridley.
Judge GridIey in the superior court
at Chicago at the close of the session
yesterday afternoon rendered a deci-
sion on the contempt case being press
ed by Waterloo against President Tear
ney, Owner Kinsella OF Springfield
and Attorney LitZinger. representing
the league. Reports as TO the signih
canoe of the decision vary so widely
that Rock Island baseball maEnates
are waiting for copy of the ruling
before deciding for themselves
One thing seems fairly certain. and
that is that the three defendants in
the contempt proceedings have been
cleared That is, the court decided that
they were not in contempt in the ac
ton they took at the Tump meeting
in Chicago last week at which Water
loo was declared voted out by four
votes, while Quincy was voted in in the
same manner.
DO NOT AGREE.
How the court arrived at this deci-
sion is not clear. one version has it
that the court decided that no con-
tempt had been committed on the
ground that the rump meeting was not
a legal one, the league constitution fix
ing five clubs as a quorum. Inasmuch
as no actual business was transacted |
the terms of the injunction had not
been violated.
Another version declares that the /
court In his ruling did not refer TO
the status of Waterloo at all this fea- I
ture not being covered In the bill filed I
by that club. Bearing upon the
courts ruling the RecOrd-Herald says:
Judge Gridley ruled that under the +
bylaws of the league the meeting held (
Jan. 2G at the Palmer house, at which .
only four teams were represented and
Waterloo was oustcd was not a meet ,
ing as a representation of five clubs .
is necessary 10 constitute "A quorom- .
The league will 20 right along with .
its preparations for the schedule and
the assignment of the 16 players car
ried last season by Waterloo, aunounc-
ed Tearney last night. The league .
will play 40 games. starting May & .
with northern clubs appearing at the
cities OF the circuit
MEANS MORE LITIGATION.
Rock Islanders who are Interested,
from what they could gather today
we're inclined TO the opinion that Wa
terloo has won, or at least has as good
a fighting chance as ever.
Whether Waterloo has won or lost
it is perfectly plain that the end Of the
litigation has not been reached and
that the Three-Eye has a rocky road
TO travel before its gets hack 10 the
business Of playing ball.
Dit TupEE nACEc