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Over the next few weeks, the rumors flew about the upcoming case of Wabash River Valley League vs. Major League Baseball. Darrow brought his usual calm demeanor to the publicity, and belittling his older opponent. “As much as I relish matching wits with the great Erle Gardner, his skills as a lawyer are not a match to my illustrious career. I hope that Mr. Gardner will see the error of his ways and drop this frivolous campaign soon!”
Behind the scenes in New York, things were not so calm for Baseball. After looking through the archives, nothing could be found that even looked like a writ of contract.
Clarence Darrow rubbed his forehead and said, “Gentlemen, if you do not have anything to prove that the WRVL had a contract with Baseball, you are not going to win this suit. I see contracts for the International League, and the Pacific Coast League, but nothing for the American Association, or the WRVL.”
He dropped the papers, and scowled at the owners around the walnut table. “ Without a contract, we are going to lose this case.”
The day of the trial arrived. The reporters and sightseers came to Indianapolis to watch the trial of the century, jockeying for the available seats.
It had been ballyhooed as David vs. Goliath, Big Business vs. the Little Guy, and the Old Country Lawyer vs. the Modern Attorney. It has the trappings of the trial of the century. Banks of phones and telegraphs have been set up in the halls surrounding the courtroom, to make it easier for the media to post their stories.
Newspapers, radio stations, and some regional and national television networks had converged on the Circle City to cover this trial.
At the end of the first week, Clarence Darrow and his group had long faces but rose to the occasion each time when asked for an interview. Each day Mr. Darrow would play to the cameras about the “rightness” of Baseball and their position. Questions were asked and answered in the byplay between the attorney and the media.
Erle Stanley Gardner would watch the spectacle of the prosecuting attorney and his brigade, then shake his head, and lowering his head as he doffed his signature hat, slid to the darkened back corridors with reporters rushing to ask questions.
Finally on the third day, the press finally caught up to Gardner. “Gentlemen, I appreciate your interest in this case, but I do not try my case in public. If you wish to know my opinion, ask the bailiff for a seat tomorrow. It will prove to be …enlightening.” He smiled as he put his hat on and buttoned his coat making his way out of the courthouse.
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