New-York tribune., 1919-09-05


Cleveland American Baseball Club
stock was indorsed in blank to him
owner of the club.
This came as something of a sur
prise in view of the published state
ments from Jim Dunn to the effect that
anybody who said that Ban johnson
owned stock in the Cleveland club was
treading on dangerous ground. The ad-
mission was drawn from johnson by
Attorney Charles II. Tuttle, represent
ing Colonel Jacob Rupert and Colonel
I. L. Huston in the proceedings brought
against Johnson for the reinstatement
Of Pitcher Carl Mays, who was arb-
trarily suspended for an indefinite
period by Johnson.
johnson also declared that it was
incumbent upon the Boston club" to
suspend Mays, according to the con-
stitution of the American League He
admitted that he did not take action
in the Mays case until two days after
he had heard that the New York Ameri-
can League team had purchased Mays.
He admitted further that he had never
communicated with the owner or man
ager Of the Boston club in the matter
OF the pitcher.
Punches Not Barred
The inquiry was enlivened at one
point by the suggestion made by At
torney Stephen c. Baldwin. represent
ing Johnson, that he (Johnson) had
the right to punch Attorney Tuttle on
the nose. provided the attitude of Mr..
Tuttle became threatening. At this
suggestion the joyful light of battle
appeared in the countenance of Colonel
Tillinghast LHommedieu Huston. and
'Dlc ~ orf
as though reaching for a phantom
bungstarter.
But the crushed car of baseball did
not act on advice of counsel. He sat
with his hands clasped across his
ample area of waistcoat and blinked
pacitically through his glasses at op-
posing counsel. The former belligerent
and bosterous Ban twiddled his pudgy
thumbs in the negative. Colonel Hus-
had assumed at the second Battle Of
the Marne, looked disappointed.
Ban Johnson will appear before
Part of the Supreme Court to-day
TO show cause why the temporary in
junction which prohibits him from in
terfering with the New York American
League Baseball Club in employing
Pitcher Carl Mays should not be made
permanent. The hearing before Ref
cree Gillespie was continued week
after a somewhat acrimonious debate
between Attorneys Baldwin and Tuttle
in which the former implied bad faith
on the part Of the attorneys for
Colonels RUPERT and Huston.
The change in the self-styled czar
was startling TO any one who had seen
him in the days when he was ordering
banishmonts and issuing pronuncia-
meatos. The pitture of William Hoh-
onzollcrn former war lord, all high
est, etc. saying nothing, but saving
wood In Holland is the only companion
picture to that of the late Baseball
Gar as tie sat in the chair before the
used 10 emulate the roar of the lion
had sunk to the bleat of a lamb, SO
that the stenographer who sat only
yard or two from the crushed Gar
had TO crane forward to catch his
answers.
Mailed Fists Folded InertIy
The mailed fists" that used to
crack the mahogany were folded in
ertly across the waist coat, the
former Gar looked like q stout
gentleman who was spending an un-
comfortable afternoon.
Much of what was drawn from the
late czar was ancient baseball history.
He told how he and Charles Comiskey,
owner of the White Sox, advanced
100000 to help the Cleveland Baseball
club. Later, he declared, he received
$4,000 in stock from Jim Dunn. He
insisted however, that the stock was
in Dunn's name. Under cross eXamina
tion he admitted that it was indorsed
to him in blank. In addition to this he
received $500 in stock, which Attor-
ney Tuttle attempted to show was in
dorsed over to him about the time q
IT per cent assessment was levied on
the stock of the Cleveland club.
This resulted in q tilt between attor-
news as to whether or not $500 was
IL per cent of $50,000. Attorney Tuttle
was Of the opinion that it was, but the
arithmetical discussion finally sub
sided.
johnson admitted that he had at
tended three stockholders meetings of
the Cleveland club and that he did not
hold any proxies. His memory went
back on him in regard to details Of pro-
ceedings at these meetings. He said
that he did not know who were on the
board of directors.
Tho mind of the late Car seemed
to be vague upon all details of the
meetings. He could not recall whether
or not any records were kept of the
meetings and he did not know whether
or not he himself had voted. He
thought that about six or seven per
sons attended the meetings and that
Charles Comiskcy attended one meeting,
He could not recall whether or not
Mr.. Comiskey had said anything at
the meeting.
Reply Brings Smiles
One reply brought the smiles from
the auditors, when Attorney Tuttle
asked nina if he recalled any opposi-
tlon at the meetings.
There were no contrary votes," re-
piled the late Gar. For the moment
he forgot that he was not still the
dictator, and he glared belligerently
as he did in the days when he was
Gar, "driving the Federal League out
of business, driving everybody out of
business" But he collapsed again i'm
mediately and twiddlcd his thumbs
apologe tcally on the broad waistcoat.
Questioned in tho matter of the
actual suspension of Carl Mays, the
late Gar seemed to have a still more
uncomfortable time. Il did not think
that the Mays matter was serious at
first" he said