Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1939-05-19
FROM OUR
EXCHANGES
SALISBURY BALL CLUB
VIOLATE BLUE LAWS

Fines and costs, totalling $95 were
imposed on eighteen officials, en-
ployees and players of the Salisbury
Base Ball Club, in Peoples Court on
Monday morning of last week as the
upshot of a game played with Easton
on the previous day in violation of the
States Sunday blue laws.
Judge E. Sheldon Jones instructed
Melvin E. Murphy, general manager
of the Eastern Shore League Club, to
have the Easton team arrange to stand
trial, on the same charges, when the
team is next scheduled to visit Sails
bury.
Warrants for the arrest of the nine
players, seven park employees, Muir
ply and playing manager Vic Keen,
were ordered sworn out by Rex A.,
Taylor, States attorney, and directed
to Sheriff Marvin B. Gordy and act
ing Chief of Police Carl Wilson after
the officers, at the direction of the
prosecutor, had on Sunday obtained
the names from the management of
the ball club.
The game was won by the Salisbury
Indians by score of 1872.
Each of the eighteen defendants
pleaded guilty, the nine players to do
ing certain work and bodily labor,
to wit: taking part in ball game"
the seven employees to working on the
Sabbath, Murphy to commanding and
Willingly suffer certain parties" to
work and Keen "did participate in and
manage players" in the contest.
Before imposing sentence Judge
Jones asked business manager Muir
ply if he had any statement to make.
The official pointed out that the Sal
isbury club had not played Sunday
ball the past two years but that the
present years schedule did not allow
shifts to other parks and had he not
played the game the club would have
been subject to league fine of 500
and the game would have been for
feited to Easton.
Murphy further stated that, after
notifying league president Harry S.
Russell of the arrests, he had obtained
permission not to play the next sched-
uled Sunday game there, on May %,
until some time later in the season.
The ball club official further told
the court that, after any fines which
might be imposed were paid and ac-
tual expenses of Sundays game were
deducted, he was going to turn the
proceeds over to the Wicomico Chill
dren's Home.
Before passing sentence Judge
Jones commented upon the high plane
on which baseball had been conducted
in Salisbury during the past two years
under Mr.. Murphy's management and
upon the splendid character" of both
Murphy and Vic Keen, each perman-
ent residents for some time of Sails
bury.
In his opinion, the magistrate said,
the club management had been ell
advised" in connection with playing
last Sunday.
After imposing fine of SIS and
costs $3.50 in each of the eighteen
-ncases) on each defendant the court
stated that, in view of the whole
hearted cooperation which had been
given the law enforcement officials
in furnishing information and getting
the traversers in court, and in view
of the statements made by Mr.. Muir
:, phy, he was suspending the costs in
=ail except the cases of Murphy and
Keen, amounting to $40. Under the
law a SIS fine in such cases is manda-
tary.
Two bills passed by the recent Leg
islature liberaliizng the blue laws in
Wicomico county which, if signed will
put them on the ballot as referendum
at the June Congressional election,
are now before Governor O'Conor. If
approved by the electorate baseball,
other sports and movies would be per-
mitted at certain hours on Sunday.
REAL. ESTATE TRANSFERS