Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-20
GRIFFITH SIGNS
WALTER JOHNSON
Premier American League Pitch
er Places Name to Wash
ington Contract.
RECEIVES $500 INCREASE
Will Return $4,000 Received
From the feds-Gilmore Re-
fuses to Believe Story.
RECEIVES $500 INCREASE

announced he. c late to-day that he had
signed Waiter Johnson rs pitcher for
the Washington Americans with a
thrce-year contract. and that johnson
would play with Washington next sea :
son.
The manager and pitcher reported an
agreement in an all-day conference.
johnson ISSUED this signcd statement:
After conference with Manager
Griffith and legal authority. I am con-
!inced the option In my last years
contract with the Washington ball club
was binding. and ] am going TO return
10 the Washington ball club and full
ny my ngreement and at the terms
Manager ,Grihi,h said Johnaon:s e' new
$500 oyer his last seasons contract.
INC Gri tat1ar said Johnson would return to
which Manager Tinker. OF the Chicago
Esdsrais con PAID him to sign Federal
TT The Federal League contract called
receipt OF telegram A from ny Gr hntfr
the option attached to Johnsons last
~ wrote to johnson and told him
,.ni 9Psion 1 was oInainF said G5i,h
club paid Johnson ss.5oo for @a the rfhi
TO CONTRACT for his services after last
convince him that the option was legal
he would return TO the Washington
days conference.
Grinlth cnnvInccs johnson.
We had legal advice while we went
OF the day johnson became convinced
he was legally under option to my
i, He wanted to do the right thing. and
so he signed up"
when he signed wi,h the Federals .h he
believed his option agreement was not
binding.
I. no 'ten-dNy ciause" Grimth said ''''''s
as. soon as Johnson concluded his
rrlath said ne na% ret urn de t" "oi his
is home In Coffeyviile. Kan.
Gilmore Doubtful.
mHJcAG,oo nHcc,nhcr Ie.-"I dom,
y Gilmore. OF the Federal I.eRgue when
h.tod that Walter Johnson had signed
: contract with the Washington Amer
Johnson signed = contract coun'e
OF weeks AGO N n,ar two years with
so coS chiGHso FGnoras ard escorted
ar,lv on nc salary o' both wears I
rcnndiate his contract with US
"H,s alleged statement that he is
convinced tho ortion in h'a lant years
~" ere convinced the ontion is not
hrairT. We arc certain on this
Gilmore 'aoid he had hren informed
'hat 1ohrso" had heen promised no.
10 ''o.5nn ? v"ar.
Nv" cortrnct"d to pay him $1,000 a
'I am told that he will get so2 500
IL salary and bonus"
fillmore was connected with Kansas
CT al aThn
receiving tn" news OF .Iohnsons ac-
.Ion.
Charles W"erh'"an. president ot th"
Chicago Federal Club. said tonight ~"
would take every legal stem n"ssihc
~ enforce Johnson's contract with the
.Fedcrals.
"r~'FrvvTLLE. KAN December 10
rh" washington American League
club has agreed to assume RESPONSE
hiiity In any legal fight thnt NAV ,riso
ter Tohnson's Federal League contract
THIS was the assertion made bv the
PITCHER. on his arrival homo to-night
when, he: confirmed the announcement
that he had signed n contract In Kan
sas City TO-DAY for term OF three
years with Washington.
I refused TO sign until Griffith as
surcd me on that point" he said.
Johnson reiterated Grifith..s state
year. but refused to state definitely
whether or not the contract carried n
DOI1uS tie animated, however, that
the war chest had been opened.
New York Deal Open.
FRENCH LICK SPRINGS. IND. De-
eember 19.-The proposed sale of the
New York Yankees to Colonel Joseph
RUPERT and Captain Til Huston up
pears TO have struck n snag. Ban John
son, president of the American League,
ana the would be purchasers spent an
tonight announced that nothing had
been accomplished. None Of the men
involved would admit that negotiations
ut 1t was vas WHISPERED about that the
s pFiee And The hIecI manager are now The
Rupert admitted he had purchased TIC
Yankees at a price said to be s450.OOo,
but evidently he has undergone n
wants Ban to slice the figure to S42O,-
600. and this has caused n little dis
agreement.
Johnson practically admitted tonight
before starting for Chicago that trouble
Was being encountered in obtaining
club if the deal goes through. ''''
There was no way to learn the iden-
tity OF the man sought for the leader
and Mathewson are the two most pcr-
1sistently mentioned
Giants Own Trimming Comu.
NEW YORK, December 19-The New
York National League Club to-day be-
its OWE training camp. when it received
n deed from the. city OF Marlin, Texas,
giving full title to Emerson Park
there. where the Giants have done their
spring work since 1908.
The property came as n gift, under
an agreement between the late Presi-
( dent John. t. Brush and the Marlin
Commercial Club. In which the city of
Marlin agreed to make the New York
vidcd they trained there without inter
mission for seven years
Rowland Signs Bromyyick.
CHICAGO, December 19.-Clarence
r Rowland. new manager Of the Chicago
Al Bromwict, of tho Davenport, Iowa,
club. In the Three-I League. Unless
Eddie Foster, Of the Washington Amer
4 leans, or Fritz Maisel. of the New York
americans, Bromwick will play third
I base. FIT