The sun., 1917-08-22
,MATTY SENTENCED
1 TO VOTE OF THANKS
Court Dismisses Complaint
Il Over Sunday Benefit at
u Polo Grounds.
NcGRAW SHARES PRAISE
Magistrate Compliments Both
"Sinncrs" Who Helped Get
$4,000 for Goth.

Headed by John Whalen, former Cor
poration Counsel. as chief counsel. the
mighty Matty. greatest north or south
paw pitcher Of all time, and John J.
AcGraw Of the Giants were hailed into
9he Washington Heights Police Court
yesterday morning on the complaint or
the Sabbath Society that Matty and Nc
Craw had had much to do with ball
game played at the Polo Grounds last
Sunday.
Mr.. Whalen. It should be remarked in
passing 80 that all that happened around
ehe police court will be thoroughly ap-
preciated, not only Is lawyer for Christie
odathewson and for John ]. McGraw but
also for the Friendly Sons OF st. Pat
rick. which largely through Mr.. Wha-
lens efforts arranged the sacred con-
cart by a band and glee club which pre-
seded the ball game.
Many Catholics Interested.
Furthermore, Mr. whalen Is a ma
tional figure in Catholic affairs and an
ardent worker in anything Of religious.
patriotic or social nature in which the
members Of his church are interested.
The concert at the Polo Grounds last
Sunday was for the benefit Of the lads
Of the Sixty-ninth Regiment and their
dependents. 1t has been estimated that
S5 per cent. OF the Slxty-n!nth are Cath
olics. And the Police Magistrate who
heard the complaint that Matty and
C21.1 .1,.t1 \, lN,- l.
lowing the Cincinnati Reds and the
Giants to play a ball game at a benefit
for the Sixty-ninth was Magistrate
Francis Xavier McQuade, who used to
play ball up around Fordham University.
Right up In court rose Chief Counsel
John Whalen and said: Sure The
Reds did beat the dayliehts out Of the
p. Giants. and It happened in the Polo
Grounds last sunday'~or legal words
to that effect. But. explained Mr.
Whalen. the charge for admission was
TO hear the concert; the gates were
opened free to the thousands tamming
the streets outside right after the con-
cert and before the game. So the crowd
had got into the game free. said Mr.
Whalen further-and Mr. Whalen should
know, inasmuch as he had been chie1
stage manager Of the concert and had
taken in the admission fees for tho con.
cert, but had let in every one free &c
zee the game later.
$4,000 for sixty.ninth.
"And." Mr.. whalen announced with
pardonable pride later in tho day, "the
benefit fund raised for the Sixty ninth
last Sunday Is just few dollars from
S26.00O."
But Powell Crichton. who, represented
the Sabbath Society. and George F
Curtis. representing the Corporation
Counsers office, seemed to think tina
charging admission to concert an6
then letting the overflow into bal
Z game on Sunday free was but way Of
getting around the law, which says thai
admission must not be charged to Sun
day games. Following the same line OF
reasoning Mr.. Crichton seemed sure tina
Matty and McGraw ought to have some
thing severe done to them. Magistrate
McQuade also thought something ough
to be done about the matter and said SO
Complaint IL Dismissed.
'1nstead Of McGraw and Mathewsor
being summoned here" announced
Magistrate McQuade, ex-ball tosser. "t'
answer = charge Of this kind. the publ
b owes to each one OF them'-the Magis
trate here turning and bowing towart
Sinners Matty and McGraw-"a vot'
Of the highest commendation for render
ing their services gratis to this patriotic
cause. Tho motion Of Mr.. Whalen I,
Dismiss this complaint is granted"
1t wasn't . lengthy speech from tn
bench, but It was sufficient. And ~
Il instead Of being beheaded or boiled IL
oil or even getting forty years in SIM
Sing the mighty Matty and McGraw ant
Mr.. Whalen got three rousing cheer
from the assembled multitude and fade,
out blushingly as their cars sped ava,
amid more happy hurrahs from tn
5ammed sidewalk.