Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-03
YANKEES FILE BIC SUIT
NEW YORK OWNERS WANT
HALF MILLION IN DAMAGES
Complaints Directed AxaInst Ban john
soh-Asks That Other Action
DC Taken Also.
IBy Associated Press. /,

NEW YORK. Feb. 2-Complaints in
S5oeo0O damage suit were served to-
day by tho New York American League
club against B. Bancroft Johnson. pres.
fdcnt OF the American League.
Action was started against Johnson
at the time the American League met
mere on December 10 for It's annual
meeting. when notices of suits were
s eSrH a on Johnson and his hys loyal
phia; Clark Griffith, Washing ton; Frank
Nayin; Detroit; Philip Ball. st. Louis.
plants were also served today on these
i've club owners In ono of the three
suits brought against johnson.
Johnson Named Personally.
In the first OF the three. suits, the
100000 personally from Johnson on
tile ground that he conceived the Idea
OF driving the New York club out OF
hnn t. TO this ths New ' York einn
including the suspension Of Carl Mays,
and by erroneous statements influenced
the Giants TO writo. refusing to con-
tinue permission to the Yankees to use
the Polo Grounds after tho year 1926,
and by making public the plans which
the New York club had for the ac1uisi
tion OF new site. prevented It's acQu,-
stti9n on ndyantagcous terms"
The complaint also contains extracts
Of letter written by johnson to his
gust G. 1919. and marked personal and
confidential" Tho extracts arc as fol-
lows:
1T is my Judgment that they should
i am sure other people can be in
fc.csted in the proposition and that n
satisfactory Arrangement can be made
York Nationals"
club ,prays for Judgment restrain
nv Johnson from paying TO himself
or receiving out OF the funs of tie
M ndnsa,ian G cG;n any salary or com
tary or treasurer Of the America n
League; and requiring ham 70 account
which he may have. taken as salary
since the annual meeting OF the league
in December. 1919.
More Court Action Demanded.
The complaint adds that tho consti-
tuition OF tho league requires that the
president, secretary and treasurer be
elected at tho annual meeting of the
league; and that when the item, cleo
OF business at the annual Ineeting held
IN New York on December 10 last. the
defendant fJohnson). who was presid-
ing. rule tina, The offices OF president.
secretary and treasurer verc not TO he
piled, and refused tho demand OF the
New York. Chicago and Boston clubs
for these Offices. and that on appeal
from this ruling johnson was sustained
ny Hoto OF nvc clubs. II further Is
charged that while the constitution
requires that the president shall re-
ceivc such compensation az the league
by vote shall determine that he has
continued to, pay himself $4,000 year.
Johnson and his ave so-calied loyal"
club owners, asks tina. they be ire
In aid Of what is said TO DO tho pur
pose and plan Of the defendant John
SOM TO injurc the New York club and
10 drive It out. of baseball. This com
paint also asks for the appointment
OF receiver for tho funs OF the league.
ana Tor an Injunction during the pen
dcncS OF this action.
Justice Vernon NJ. Davis. OF tho Nev-
YORK supreme Court. signed today an
order Tor the taking in Cleveland Of
the testimony of James G Dunn, pres
ident; Walter McNicbols. secretary. n
r. ;. Barnard. business manager OF
Cleveland baseball club, and reanirfnc
tho club 10, produce for inspection it's
minute books. stock books and other
records concerning the financial Inter
est of Ban Johnson in the Cleveland
in its affairs