Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-02-03
Line SPORTS NelDs ond Comment
Ban johnson Sued
For Half Million

n half million dollar damage suit
were served yesterday by the New
York American League Club against
b. Bancroft Johnson. president OF the
American League.
Action was started against John
son at the time the American League
met here on Dec. 10 for its annual
meeting, when notices o; suits were
served on Ban and his five loyal club
owners, Connie Mack Philadelphia:
Clark Griffith, Washington; Frank
Navin Detroit; Phil Ball. 81. Louis,
and James Dunn, Cleveland. Com
plants were also served today on
these fire club owners in one of three
suits brought against Johnson
In the first OF the three suits the
New York club demands damages of
$500 oo0 personally from Johnson on
the ground that nc conceived the
idea ~ driving the New York club
out Of baseball and TO this end did
various acts injurious TO the New
York club, including the suspension
OF Mays and by erroneous statements
Influenced tho Giants 10 write refus-
ing To continue permission TO the
Yankees to use the Polo Grounds af-
ter the ycnr lo"n md by making pub
lie the plans which the New York
club Ind for the acquisition OF new
site prevented it's acquisition on ad-
vantageous terms"
Letters Give Evidence.
The complaint also contains ex-
tra cts Of letter written by johnson
to his five 'NoynI' club owners. dated
August 6 1919 and marked personal
and confidential" The extracts are
as follows:
at is nv Indictment that they should
he retired from our organization" II
am sure o'hcr people can be inter
eet"d in the proposition and that a
satisfactory arrangement can he
T721e with tNe present owners OF the
New York Nationals"
In the second suit the New York
c1rh prevS FOR judgment restraining
Johnson from paying TO himself or
receiving out of the funds Of the
American I "aC1le anv s9lary or COM
ponsation either as president score
tory or trea surer of the American
oague ard recurring him ~ account
for and rnetOre. with intO~nrt al
sums which he may have t~ksn IS
s"l9rv since the annual meeting OF
tho league in December 1919.
Two corr Dloint alleges thst the con-
et't0'ior Of THE league reruires. that
the president secretarvv and trsa sur
o. he elected at the annual meeting OF
tho leogue ard that when the item
election Of officers" came up in the
order Of business 1T the annual meet
ing held IN New York on December
10 last. the defendant Johnson. who
was presiding. ruled that the offices
OF president. secretary and treasurer
were not to be filled and refused the
demand Of the New York. Chicago
and Boston clubs to be permitted to
make nominations to these offices.
and that on appeal from his ruling
Johnson was sustained by a vote OF
five clubs. II further is charged that
while the constitution requires that
the PRECEDENT shall receive such com
bti4S''tioh - tllt ut ~ N'At Siiai'
determine tNat he has continued 10
pay himself $40 200 year.
"LovaI Five" Included.
The third suit. which is against
Johnson and his five so-called loyal"
club owners asks that they be re-
strained from doing any further acts
in did OF what is said TO be the pur-
pose and plan of the defendant John
son TO iniure the New York club and
to drive II out Of baseball"
THIS cCmpl0int also asks for the
appointment Of n receiver for the
funds Of the lea que and for an in
junction during the tendency of this
acton
Ine-'"n v"rnor NJ. Davis of the
New York supreme Court signed to-
G"y an ORDER for the ticking in Cleve-
land of the testimony Of Ia~0es G.
Dunn president. W9Iter McNicholls.
secretary and =. s Rornard. business
manager Of the C1eveiA nd baseball
club. and requiring the club to pro-
duce for inspection its minute books,
stock hooks and ether records con-
corning the financed interest of Ran
johnson in ~" Clevclnnd club and
concerning his participation in its af-
frirS