The Wilmington morning star., 1945-06-12
LIPPY DUR0CHER
CASE CONTINUED
By JACK CUDDY

United Press Staff Correspondent
NEW YORK, June 11-W.D-From
Greenpernt to the Gowanus, the
mbabble of "verces' rose loudly in
Brooklyn tonight as Dodger fans
babble of "verces" rose loudly in
Leo Durocher's alleged assault on
a grandstand critic of the ''Bumbs"
While Americas most rabid base
ball metropolis rocked in the throes
OF argument, the debonair Dodger
manager was arraigned in Brooklyn
Felony court on a charge Of felon-
louS assault.
He was accused of beating up
John Christian, a medically dis
charged soldier who yelled critic
ism at Lippy during the game
against the Phillies at Ebbets field
Saturday night.
The case was continued until
June Is, with Durocher remaining
at liberty under 81, 900 bail. Similar
action was taken in the case of
Joseph Moore, a special patrolman
at the ball park, who is accused
OF helping Lippy in the brawl under
the stands.
Opinion among fans was sharply
and loudly divided. For example,
Bill Tae, an elderly Brooklyn taxi
driver, said, 1--WE been expectin'
somethin' like this for a long time.
Llppy can dish it out to the umpires
but he can't take it hisself."
However, Hilda, Chester - the
bleacher goddess who rings a
large cowben at most of the games
was prominent Durocher de-
fender. She declared:
The pernt is this: Christian had
been pickin' on nearly all the Dodg-
er players for more'n a month
with a VERGE like a fog horn. He
shouldn't been pickin' on 'em when
the Buns is playin' alright. An he
shouldn't been usin' langwidge
that shocked the ladies'
Branch Oeacon) Hickey, Dod-
ger president, seemed to agree
with cowbell Hilda. He said the
Durocher Christian situation was
partly the clubs fault. He said the
club should have had Ebbets field
policed better, to prevent chaps like
Christian from shouting epithets Of
fensive not only to the players but
also to the fans. Better policing will
be provided from now on, he pro-
missed.
Although Rickney declined to
state point-bland his attitude to-
ward Durocher's latest mess, his
mannerism indicated that he did
not regard the situation as serious.
Most baseball writers figure that
the alteration will not jeopardize
Lippy's managerial job. Hickey is
a shrewd business man. He APP
preciates that the Dodgers under
Durocher's management, are play
ing well-compared to other clubs
in the National League-and draw
ing we'll. More than 100000 adanis
sions have been paid for the first 81
home games. This indicates more
than 100000 (m) for the entire
season, the best attendance since
1941 when the club won it's last
pennant.
Meanwhile, Dodger attorneys are
confident that the cases against
Durocher and Patrolman Moore
ultimately will be thrown out Of
court. They point out that Chris
tan charges that Lippy and Moore
struck him with "a blunt instru'
ment," fractUring his jaw; but that
Christian can neither produce the
alleged blunt instrument used nor
any witnesses who saw it. Mean.
while Eat least three witnesses
can testify on Durocher's behalf as
to what actually happened" that
night in the players runway.
Durocher resumed his duties as
manager today for the Dodgers
exhibition game at Mitchell field.