New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-09
John G.. Slavin Suffers a
Fractured Skull i'm Fall
After Being Peacemak.
er in Lambs Club Row
Leader of Giants
Has a Black Eve
Name of His Antagonist,
Thespian, Kept Secret;
Taxi Ride Adds Mystery

John c. Slavin, a we'll known actor,
now retired, and "peacemaker" in a
fight at The Lambs early yester-
day, lay unconscious from fractured
skull last night in ST. Lukes Hospital.
John j. McGraw. manager of the
Giants and said to have been the loser
IN the fight, was able to attend the
ball game yesterday, although he had
black eye and didn't bat balls to the
lntield, according to custom
Detectives Fitzpatrick and Love. are
trying to determine what might have
caused Savin to fall on the sidewalk
in front of McGraw's apartment house,
at 3O1 West Tooth Street, one minute
after they said good night to each
other at 1880 o'clock yesterday morn
ing.
Reports at the West Tooth Street sta
ton were that McGraw and an actor,
whose name the Lambs withhold.
had fistic dispute there late Saturday
night, and that Slavin attended Nc
Graw's wounds. Thsn, with Winfield
Leggett, retired lieutenant commander
IN the navy, they left the club and went
70 McGraw's home in a taxicab driven
oy William Meagan, OF 3 Columbus
Avenue.
Slavin Falls on Sidewalk
Physicians at the hospital had the
impression that Slavin fell from the
taXicab and struck the sidewalk with
some force, but Meagan said the three
men got out and McGraw, after brief
conversation, said good night and
entered the building. Then Mcagan
heard the sound of Slavin's fall aud,
turning, saw him stretched out on The
sidewalk, with blood streaming from
his head.
Two men came from motor car on
the corner and suggested that Slavin
be taken to the hospital. Leggett and
Meagan had Slavin placed in the taxi
cab and drove to the hospital, where
the police were notified
Detective Love visited McGraw's
home, awakened him and told the aston
ished baseball magnate Of Slavin's in
jury. Neither he nor Leggett could
imagine how Slavin happened to fall.
They said there had been no quarrel in
the taxicah and that they had parted
the best of friends. Meagan confirmed
this.
"Mr. Slavin was not injured in the
Lambs Club" member who spoke for
the club declared. "He was perfectly
all right when he left here in com
pany with McGraw and Leggett. The
story we were told was that he slipped
in alighting from taxicab and struck
his head on the sidewalk when he fell"
Club VIII Investigate
The police have made no arrests in
connection with the case. Slavin re-
manned practically unconscious through
out yesterday, but would answer "Yes'
and "No" vaguely to questions. Mrs
Slavin and son. John Slavin jr., came
to the hospital from their home at 1S2
Case Street, Elmhurst, L. |. Doctors
said there was no likelihood that he
would die Immediately and no way to
determine whether he would live.
Slavin has much real estate, and has
not been active on the stage for about
ten years. When appearing regularly
he was seen in support of De Wolf
Hopper, Lillian Russell, Frank Daniels,
jefferson De Angels and other stars
He was with Frank Tinney in "When
Dreams Come True" several years ago.
c: V. 0. Helm, of the Lambs Club,
said last night that he was playing
cards with McGraw, Slavin and Leg
SeIl early saturday NlpHI, DuC Cnat
was before the hour of the rumored
fight. George Howell, of the house
committee, announced that the COM
mittee would meet at D. m. to-day
10 take some action regarding the
fight to prove that the club was in no
way. responsible for the injury to
Slavin.
An employee in McGraw's home said
yesterday afternoon that he had gone
TO the game and would be home to
dine with his family at 1880 o'clock.
But at that hour no one was there, and
an elevator attendant declared that
McGraw had not been home since the