Lot # 40: Incredible 1904 Norine Delahanty "Appeal Book" - The Ed Delahanty Court Testimony!

Starting Bid: $1,000.00

Bids: 5 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed


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Item was in Auction "Spring, 2019 Premier Auction",
which ran from 3/26/2019 4:00 AM to
4/14/2019 7:34 AM



"Big Ed" Delahanty was one of the greatest hitter of the 19th Century hitting .400 three times in the 1890s and driving in 100 runs seven times in his career. In 1902 he joined the fledgling American League winning a batting title in 1902 and becoming the only player to win batting titles in both leagues. Around this time however Delahanty began having problems in his personal life. His wife Norine was suffering with an illness and Delahanty began to accumulate debts from gambling. At the end of the 1902 season Delahanty signed a contract with the New York Giants that paid a $4000 advance to help mitigate the debt. Unfortunately for Delahanty an arrangement between the American and National Leagues to honor one another's contracts meant that Delahanty had to return to Washington for the 1903 season and pay back the $4000 advance. Delahanty held out for more but ultimately Washington paid back the advance with an agreement to withhold $2000 per year from his salary as reimbursement. Preparing for the 1903 season Delahanty began to behave erratically drinking more and eventually leaving his team on July 2 in Detroit and heading to New York ostensibly to re-join the Giants. Delahanty's drunken behavior on the train resulted in his removal and as the train crossed the International Railway Bridge from Niagara Falls to Buffalo Delahanty scuffled with the night watchman and subsequently either jumped or fell into the Niagara River. After his passing Delahanty's family sued the Michigan Central Railway Company for $20 000. They were eventually awarded the sum of $5 000 ($3 000 to his wife Norine and an additional $2 000 to his daughter) for leaving Delahanty so close to the bridge in his intoxicated and unbalanced condition. The mystery of what caused his fall from the bridge has never been solved and has captured the fascination of hobbyists to the point where Delahanty's cards and memorabilia are among the most highly coveted of his era. Presented here is the most unique piece of Delahanty memorabilia we have encountered: a full copy of the "Appeal Book" presenting evidence and testimony from the railroad's trial originating from Norine Delahanty. Printed on brittle paper (almost onion skin) and string-bound together under a lightweight cardboard cover the document files an appeal of the jury's $5 000 award motioning for a non-suit. The 91-page document presents all the evidence from the case along with the entire testimony from the initial trial. The book contains the testimony from John Cole the train conductor who removed Delahanty from the train as well as Samuel Kingston the bridge guard with whom Delahanty fought after being removed from the train. The book is well-worn as the thin paper has become brittle with time (as one would expect). Some of the p

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