The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-15
SALE OF N. Y. YANKS UNDER WAY
SYNDICATE PLANS
PURCHASE OF CLUB
100000 Baseball Empire
Expected To Change Hands
Before Season Opens

lue UdSeDdl tIlplfe OF Ine new
York Yankees, estimated as woSth
$1,000, 900 to $10,OoO,O0o and fire.
quently reported for sale since the
death Of Col. Jacob Rupert a year
ago, may be transferred to a syndi-
cate headed by Governor Francis P.
Murphy of New Hampshire before
the season opens next month.
Murphy, located in Boston to-
night, confirmed the fact that he
has been negotiating for control OF
the club and would have a personal
interest in it.
Several details must be ironed out
before the transaction is completed,
he said, but in New York it was
believed virtually every phase of
the sale had been developed excep.
obtaining approval of the other
clubs in the American league.
There was NO reason to expect
that this would be withheld.
All officials of the Yankees were
in Florida and the only one who
could be reached for comment was
President Edward G. Barrow, who
denied that any new negotiations
were under way, but admitted:
"All that is handled by Byron
Clark" for many years personal
attorney for Col. Rupert and one
of the directors of the ball club.
Clark also was in Florida.
Governor Murphy, a prominent
shoe manufacturer in Manchester.
N. H., has been an ardent baseball
fan for many years. He was de
feated this week in an election OF
delegates to the republican national
convention and some of his friends
expect that he will retire from poll.
tics if this deal is completed.
Murphy at one time was a stock
holder Of the Boston National league
club, then known as the Braves.
and his name a linked with it as
a possible purchaser when it got
into financial difficulties.
He is a close friend of Ambassa'
dor Joseph P. Kennedy and both
their names have been mentioned
in recent months in connection with
a sale of the Yanks.
The New York Sun also discov.
cred today that James J.. Walker.
former mayor of New York and
father Of the Sunday baseball law
in this state, had been approached
by three different persons asking
him to head a group to buy the
club.
Arrangements still ARE on the
fire." he told the paper, but added
sition only if Barrow was permits ed
to remain as president, or executive
head, Of the baseball system, which
includes Newark, Kansas City and
many other minor league teams.
Rumors of a deal for the baseball
properties have been current for
months since the death of Col. Jacob
Rupert at the age of II on Janu.
airy 10, 1889. He left a fortune at
that time estimated at more than
$40, OO0, 900 in brewery, real estate
and baseball holdings.
The bulk of this estate passed to
two nieces, Mrs. Joseph Holleran
of Greenwich, Conn.,, and Mrs. J.
Basil Mcguire, also of Greenwich.
and a friend, Helen WINTHROP
Weyant, 3S-year-old former actress.
Although the estate was left to
the three women, actual control of
the baseball club Was placed in the
hands of four trustees, headed by
Edward G. Barrow, who was elect.
ed president Of the club. The other
trustees named in the will Of Col
Rupert were his brother, George,
his brother-in-law, H. Garrison Sill.
leck, Jr., of Greenwich, Conn.,, and
Frederick E. Grant, for many years
the attorney for Col. Rupert and
the Rupert interests.