Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-06
PITCHER IN TROUBLE
Rube Marquard Is Charged
With Hoodwinking Feds.
MAY HAVE TO STAND TRIAL
Owner of Giants Also Has COMPLAINT,
While Players Fraternity
May Act.
Special Dispa tch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, December 5.-Rube
Marquard's dealings with Robert B.
eral League club, probably will get the
Giants famous left -handed pitcher into
serious trouble Mr.. Ward may not believe
it, but 1t is fact nevertheless. according
to National League officials. that Presi-
dent Hampstead of the Giants has an
ironclad contract with Marquard for
the season of 1915 and 1916. One week
ago Marquard said he was under con-
tract to the Giants for the next two
years and that the New York club
would not be able to trade him.
Marquard asked President Hampstead
for $1,000 in advance money last Mon
day. His request was refused. Then
the lanky southpaw made his way to
Mr.. Wards office and informed the
sign a contract. Mr.. Ward asked Mar
guard If he was tied up with the Giants
and the RUDE. according to Mr. Ward,
made an affidavit yesterday to the ef-
the New York club. Thereupon Mr..
Ward paid $500 in cash to the pitcher,
who signed two-year contract with
the Brookfeds.
Criminal Proceedings Threatened.
As soon as President Hampstead and
Secretary Foster heard the news they
promptly declared that the Wards had
been sadly hoodwinked, inasmuch as
Marquard was legally bound to pitch
for the Giants. They also produced
Maruuards contract, which bore the
official seal of the National League
dated July 81. 1914, together with the
signature of Gov. John X. Tener, who
promulgated the document on that
date.
When Robert B. Ward was informed
that the Giants had this contract with
Maruuard he appeared to be a bit in
credulous. He said he could not be-
lieye Marquard had misrepresented the
facts in such a barefaced manner, but
he added that if such contract actu-
ally existed he probably would insti-
guard, charging him with grand lar
ceny.
Meanwhile the New York club Off
Gals were talking tonight of bringing
a charge of perjury against the pitcher,
while it also was rumored that Mar
guard would be expelled from the
Players Fraternity. The national COM
mission. which meets here next week.
purpose of deciding whether MarQuard
shall be blacklisted.
Marquard kept out of sight after his
deal with the Wards had been clinched.
At his residence tonight it was said
that he had left town.
johnson Simply Ignored Option.
Walter Johnson. in signing with the
Chifeds, did not jump a 1915 contract
with the Washington club. He simply
ignored the option on his services for
next year. for which he received $4,000.
Johnson was advised that his last sea-
sons contract with the Nationals was
invalid because it contained ten-day
release notice. and that the option
clause would not stand the acid test.
The odd part of this contention is the
recent opinion of Federal League at
torneys that the option clause is bind
ing. The Feds form of contract con-
tains the same kind of option clause
which Johnson has refused to recog-
nize. The Feds have admitted that the
abolition of the ten-day release no.
tice by the courts last summer was
boomerang. for the various legal de-
cisions have compelled the Gilmore cir
cult to keep all of the players under
contract to them.