The glamorous life of the professional ball-player, 1879

No great point here, but possibly of interesting or amusing.  The background is that the Chicago club is playing an exhibition game in Indianapolis.  Indianapolis had a National League club the previous year, but it had gone belly-up.  A “capias” is a legal writ.  Think of it as an arrest warrant.  The “Anson” referred to is, of course, Adrian Anson, captain of the Chicago team:

“Just as the game was about to commence a constable appeared on the grounds and served a capias for Shaffer and Flint, who, while playing in the local nine, incurred sundry pecuniary obligations which remained unpaid. The constable claims that he was obstructed in the performance of his duty by Bob Smith, who was managing the clubs on this occasion, and the oily tongue of Captain Anson. At any rate, he didn’t get his men. After the game Flint and Shaffer secreted themselves in a hack, and were hurriedly transported to an out-of-the-way place from which to board the train, leaving at 5:45 P.M. for Cincinnati. The remainder of the club went to the depot, as also did the constable. Not finding his men, the latter questioned Anson concerning them, who used profane language to the minion of the law, for which he was unceremoniously hurried off to the station-house, several policemen participating. In the meantime the train had gone with the remainder of the club, including Flint and Shaffer. Anson put up $30 for his appearance on June 27 on a charge of profanity, and went to a hotel, where he was shortly afterwards again arrested–this time for resisting an officer. A Justice promptly assessed him $16.20. As Anson’s presence in Cincinnati was imperatively necessary, he forfeited his bail in the first case. Whenever a fee is in sight, Indianapolis officers are very prompt in asserting and enforcing the majesty of the law. But the end is not yet. Hearing that the Chicago Club would pass through here at 11 o’clock on June 27 on its return home, a special detail of twenty deputy constables assembled at the Union Depot to capture Flint and Shaffer. The train was raided, the gentlemen sought could not be found, but little Joe Quest was captured. The bill of a creditor for $55 was presented, which Mr. Hulbert, president of the club, paid, and Quest was released. The action of Treat, Quest’s creditor, is severely criticised, inasmuch as he was a stockholder of the Indianapolis Club of last year, which is still indebted to its players in a considerable amount. Flint and Shaffer were on the train, stowed away under the adipose form of a friend in need.”

Source: New York Clipper July 5, 1879