The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-21


The flrst legal shot OF the baseball
- war of 1914 was fired here today
~ by the Federal league in filing
petition with the United States
district court for the western district OF
Michigan asking for an Injunction TO re-
strain William ]. killifer. Jr' ioTmeriy ,:
s,GhG5 9 the phisqepan cnb o,er
than the Chicago Federals.
Killifsr signed threc-year contract
with the Chicago Federals, but attefWaTd
was persuaded that the reserve clause In
his old contract with the Philadelphia
club held him legally TO Philadelphia. ana
Joined his former team. The suit In
long rega rded rs one OF the bulwarks OF
organized baseball The suit was brought
In the western Michigan district because
Killifcr IS a resident OF Paw Paw. Mich.
After rccting the organization OF the
Chicago Federal league baseball club Tor
the purpose OF maintaining "A baseball
club, the bill declared that 1t was nee
.ssarv 10 engage the services OF base
ball players of unique and cxtrso Ordinary
skill and eXpcrtneSs. among whom was
the defendant, Bill Killifer."
Three-year Contract.
The complaint. which was signed by
Charles Weeghman. president OF the Ch.
cago Federal lea que baseball club. told
OF the signing of the contract by Kill
lifer, IN which he agreed to play for three
years for the Chicago Federals for to-
contract, a copy OF which was attached
10 the petition for an enjoInlne order,
expressly stipulated. the court was IN
formed, that Kilifcr agreed to devote his
entire time and attention to the service
OF the Chicago Feder2lS.
The court was informed that $500 was
advanced TO killifer on account and was
accepted by him and is still retained
Failure to report for practice In ac-
cordance with his contract, was alleged
against Killfer,
'The bill then sets forth the informa
lion that baseball team consists oil
nine regular players. besides substitutes,
each OF whom play in different positions,
ond base. shortstop. third base right
field center iield and left field.
THAT one OF the principal positions on
a baseball team is that OF catcher; that
on account OF its Importance and OF the
extraordinary skill; adaptability % and
ing of thls position. II is more difficult
20 secure an expert catcher than any OF
the other players.
Praise for Bill.
A tribute to the ability OF Catcher kll-
tfer was contained in a paragraph whica
Informed the court 'that the Defendant
is baseball player. to Wit; catcher
OF unique and extraordinary ski!l ana
cxpertness and OF such personal and IN
teIlectuai character that his loss cannot
lie substantially compensated for by the
services OF some other baseball catcher
The bin set forth that the Chicago
Federals viii suffer irrep6rable INJURY un-
less n restraining order issues enjolning
ISnlIfer from playing with clubs other
than the Chicago Federals. and more par
;icuarly with the Philadelphia Nationals,
with whom the compla inant believes KILL
fer Is now I'm active practice In prepara-
tion FOR the opening OF the baseball sea
son.
Becsuse OF the absence OF United
States Judge Sessions from the city. IL
was impossible 10 obtain temporary
restraining order as originally planned
The prayer for this was stricken from
the BIZ. and instead April was fixed
as the date for the bearing on the aues-
tion OF temporary Injunction
WILMINGTON. y. c.. March 60
When Informed that application for, al
injunction TO restrain Killifer from play
ing with the Philadelphia Nationals haG
been filed at Grand Rapids, Charlie:
Doom. manager Of the club. said tn
move had been anticipated. and hl'
course OF action had been clearly out
lined by legal counsel for tho club.
we have no fear whatever OF losing
kilifer, and we expect Tom SSaton II
return TO the club before the season
opens. We shall apply for an injunc,
ton restraining him from playing witt
the Chicago training squad at Shreve
port La
NEW YORK. March 20.-The proposed
American tour Of the Keio universit;
baseball team OF Toxic. Japan. will b.
greatly curtailed as result OF facult,
ruling announced today. According L
been ordered to return to the university
not later than June Is. This ruling viii
necessarily conflne the playing schsdul
20 the Pacific coast